Victim's Rights

Principal Task of the VX staff

1. Empowering Victims The principal task of the Victim Notification and Assistance staff is to provide victims a measure of control over their victim status. This is done by informing victims of upcoming court dates so that they may appear at court hearings and by supplying victims with practical knowledge about court procedures and their options.
2. Accompanying Victims to Court The Prosecutor's Office also offers the presence of a victim assistant at court hearings and refers victims to outside helping agencies whenever it is appropriate.

What is a Victim?

1. "Victim" means a person against whom the criminal offense has been committed. This includes a minor, or if the person is killed or incapacitated, the person's spouse, parent, child, grandparent or sibling, any other person related to the person by consanguinity or affinity to the second degree or any other lawful representative of the person except if the persons or the person's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, other person related to the person by consanguinity or affinity to the second degree or other lawful representative is in custody for an offense or is the accused. (A.R.S. 13-4401(19)
2. Designated Representative
   • If a victim is incompetent, deceased or otherwise incapable of designating another person to act in the victim's place, the court may appoint a lawful representative who is not a witness. If at any time the victim is no longer incompetent, incapacitated or otherwise incapable of acting, the victim may personally exercise victim's rights.
3. Legal entities and neighborhood associations can be considered victims, but their rights under Arizona law are limited.

Crime Victim’s Rights

Summary of Victims' rights with link to Title 13, Chapter 40(PDF, 50KB)

• To be informed of rights at various stages of the process
• To be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity
• To receive notice of proceedings
• To receive notice of offender’s release
• To attend proceedings
• To be heard at proceedings
• To confer with the prosecutor
• To a speedy trial and disposition
• To refuse an interview with the Defendant or defense attorney
• To prompt restitution

This is only a partial listing of the Arizona Victims’ Rights Statutes. Below you will find the location of all Victims’ Rights Statutes within the Arizona Revised Statutes according to title, and a link to the Arizona State Legislature website to view all Victims’ Rights’ laws.

http://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=13