Crime Victims' Rights
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CCP, Chapter 56, Art. 56.02. Crime victims' rights
(a) A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is
entitled to the following rights within the criminal justice system:
(1) the right to receive from law enforcement agencies adequate protection from
harm and threats of harm arising from cooperation with prosecution efforts;
(2) the right to have the magistrate take the safety of the victim or his family
into consideration as an element in fixing the amount of bail for the accused;
(3) the right, if requested, to be informed:
(A) by the attorney representing the state of relevant court proceedings,
including appellate proceedings, and to be informed if those proceedings have
been canceled or rescheduled prior to the event; and
(B) by an appellate court of decisions of the court, after the decisions are
entered but before the decisions are made public;
(4) the right to be informed, when requested, by a peace officer concerning the
defendant's right to bail and the procedures in criminal investigations and by
the district attorney's office concerning the general procedures in the criminal
justice system, including general procedures in guilty plea negotiations and
arrangements, restitution, and the appeals and parole process;
(5) the right to provide pertinent information to a probation department
conducting a presentencing investigation concerning the impact of the offense on
the victim and his family by testimony, written statement, or any other manner
prior to any sentencing of the offender;
(6) the right to receive information regarding compensation to victims of crime
as provided by Subchapter B, including information related to the costs that may
be compensated under that subchapter and the amount of compensation, eligibility
for compensation, and procedures for application for compensation under that
subchapter, the payment for a medical examination under Article 56.06 for a
victim of a sexual assault, and when requested, to referral to available social
service agencies that may offer additional assistance;
(7) the right to be informed, upon request, of parole procedures, to participate
in the parole process, to be notified, if requested, of parole proceedings
concerning a defendant in the victim's case, to provide to the Board of Pardons
and Paroles for inclusion in the defendant's file information to be considered
by the board prior to the parole of any defendant convicted of any crime subject
to this subchapter, and to be notified, if requested, of the defendant's
release;
(8) the right to be provided with a waiting area, separate or secure from other
witnesses, including the offender and relatives of the offender, before
testifying in any proceeding concerning the offender; if a separate waiting area
is not available, other safeguards should be taken to minimize the victim's
contact with the offender and the offender's relatives and witnesses, before and
during court proceedings;
(9) the right to prompt return of any property of the victim that is held by a
law enforcement agency or the attorney for the state as evidence when the
property is no longer required for that purpose;
(10) the right to have the attorney for the state notify the employer of the
victim, if requested, of the necessity of the victim's cooperation and testimony
in a proceeding that may necessitate the absence of the victim from work for
good cause;
(11) the right to counseling, on request, regarding acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and testing for
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection, antibodies to HIV, or infection with any other probable causative
agent of AIDS, if the offense is an offense under Section 21.11(a)(1), 22.011,
or 22.021, Penal Code;
(12) the right to request victim-offender mediation coordinated by the victim
services division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
(13) the right to be informed of the uses of a victim impact statement and the
statement's purpose in the criminal justice system, to complete the victim
impact statement, and to have the victim impact statement considered:
(A) by the attorney representing the state and the judge before sentencing or
before a plea bargain agreement is accepted; and
(B) by the Board of Pardons and Paroles before an inmate is released on parole.
(b) A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is
entitled to the right to be present at all public court proceedings related to
the offense, subject to the approval of the judge in the case.
(c) The office of the attorney representing the state, and the sheriff, police,
and other law enforcement agencies shall ensure to the extent practicable that a
victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is afforded
the rights granted by Subsection (a) of this article and, on request, an
explanation of those rights.
(d) A judge, attorney for the state, peace officer, or law enforcement agency is
not liable for a failure or inability to provide a right enumerated in this
article. The failure or inability of any person to provide a right or service
enumerated in this article may not be used by a defendant in a criminal case as
a ground for appeal, a ground to set aside the conviction or sentence, or a
ground in a habeas corpus petition. A victim, guardian of a victim, or close
relative of a deceased victim does not have standing to participate as a party
in a criminal proceeding or to contest the disposition of any charge.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/cp/cp0005600.html#cp002.56.02.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 588, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Subsec. (a)
amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 433, § 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Subsecs. (a),
(c) amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 929, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Subsec.
(c) amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 996, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Subsecs.
(a), (d) amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 202, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;
Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 811, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;
Subsec. (a)(6) amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 5.95(108), eff. Sept.
1, 1995; Subsecs. (a), (b) amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1034, § 3, eff.
Sept. 1, 2001.
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