victim rights
Victims of crime have fundamental rights in the criminal justice process to ensure that all victims are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity. Utah Code and the Utah Constitution protects and honors victims’ rights. You can locate these rights in the Utah Constitution, Article 1, Section 28, and in the Utah Criminal Code 77-37, 77-38, and 77-38b.
Understanding Your Rights and Role as a Crime Victim: A Guide to Navigating Support and Justice
Being a crime victim can bring profound injury, loss, and disruption to your life, often accompanied by shock, fear, anger, and confusion. Engaging with the criminal justice system and various community agencies for support may feel overwhelming.
The criminal justice system has both a legal and moral duty to support crime victims, as this helps maintain order and protect everyone. Your involvement is crucial, as the justice system relies on your participation. However, navigating these processes can be complex and frustrating.
This information aims to help you understand your rights and the importance of your active role in Utah’s criminal justice system.
JUDICIAL VICTIM RIGHTS CHAIRS
Utah law also establishes a Victim Rights Committee in each of the eight judicial districts in Utah. The purpose of these committees is to address specific complaints and problems within their respective judicial districts and to be an educational and supportive influence in protecting victim rights.
Through the various Victim Rights Committees victims ' concerns are monitored throughout the state. Individuals may bring violations of victim rights to the attention of their respective Victim Rights Committee.
Victim Complaints
If you think your rights as a crime victim have been violated, you can choose to file a complaint. Doing this lets you explain what happened and gives the Victim Rights Committees a chance to look into your concerns. While filing a complaint may not change what happened in your specific case, it helps show how you were affected and can lead to changes in how victims are treated. Sharing your experience can help make sure that the people and agencies involved understand and respond better to victims’ needs, making things more fair and caring in future cases.