Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard

Victim Services

(February 26, 2010) Attorney General Goddard Speaking at the Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC), Valley of the Sun Chapter Fundraiser Dinner & Silent Auction, Phoenix AZ
February 26, 2010
Attorney General Goddard Speaking at the Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC), Valley of the Sun Chapter Fundraiser Dinner & Silent Auction, Phoenix AZ
(left) Terry talking to a member of Parents Of Murdered Children - (right) Goddard is flanked by Sue Osolin, Co-Chapter Leader, POMC and Beckie Miller, Chapter Leader, POMC

2010 Victims' Rights Week Celebration 2010 Crime Victims' Rights Week Celebration

Crime Victims' Guide

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is dedicated to a system of justice that is inclusive of crime victims and will remain vigilant in striving to provide the most efficient and effective service to the people of Arizona. The services provided to crime victims and the technical assistance and support provided to criminal justice agencies and other service providers is the responsibility of the Office of Victim Services.

The mission of the Attorney General’s Office of Victim Services is to promote and facilitate justice and healing for Arizona’s crime victims and to support criminal and juvenile justice system entities statewide in the administration of victims’ rights laws. The Office of Victim Services is broken down into two primary facets, the advocacy and assistance provided to crime victims of cases prosecuted/argued by attorneys of the Attorney General’s Office and the leadership and agency support responsibilities that impact on the legal rights afforded to victims of crime in Arizona. These include the Victims’ Rights Program which provides financial assistance to criminal justice agencies, the Victims’ Rights Enforcement Program, and Victims’ Rights Training.

Summary of Arizona’s Victims’ Rights

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.

Title 13, Chapter 40 - Crime Victims’ Rights

Title 8, Chapter 3, Article 7 - Victims’ Rights for Juvenile Offenses

WHO IS A VICTIM?

"Victim" means a person against whom the criminal offense has been committed, including 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 person 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))

Criminal and juvenile justice statutes allow a victim who is physically or emotionally unable to exercise any right but is able to designate a lawful representative who is not a bona fide witness, the designated person may exercise the same rights that the victim is entitled to exercise. The victim may revoke this designation at any time and exercise the victim's rights.

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 the victim's rights.

Although legal entities and neighborhood associations can be considered victims, their rights under Arizona law are limited.

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