NCJ Number
107065
Date Published
1986
Length
263 pages
Annotation
These model statutes are designed to meet three basic needs of victims of crime: to be consulted, to be respected, and to be protected.
Abstract
Specifically, the proposed legislation would ensure that designated victim counseling is legally privileged and not subject to defense discovery or subpoena, that victim impact statements be solicited and considered at sentencing, and that parole hearings be open to the public. In addition, legislation is proposed that would make hearsay evidence admissible and sufficient in preliminary hearings so that victims need not testify in person, that would ensure that addresses and telephone numbers of victims and witnesses are not made public or available to the defense without a clear need, and that would extend the statute of limitations in criminal cases of child sexual assault. Other model statutes would adopt special court rules and procedures for child victims/witnesses that would include a presumption that children are competent to testify. Also proposed are bail reforms, modeled on the Bail Reform Act of 1984, and sentencing reforms, abolishing parole and limiting judicial discretion, modeled on the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Finally, proposed legislation would provide for employer access to sex offense criminal history record information. Provided for each model statute are commentary and footnotes.