Victims' Bill of Rights
In Nevada, since 1983, victims of crime have certain needs and rights pursuant to the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 178. Those rights and needs include the following:
To be informed about the status of the criminal case
To be free from intimidation or dissuasion
To know when impounded property may be released
To receive a witness fee for lawful obedience to a subpoena commanding testimony
To understand the existing victim compensation laws and receive compensation if applicable
To a secure waiting area unavailable to the defendant or his family members where making appearances in court
To know when the defendant or offender is released from custody before or during trial (upon written request)
To know when the defendant or offender is released from prison (upon written request).
November 2018 amendments
Recently, passed by voters on November 6, 2018, the Nevada Constitution was amended to include certain rights for victims of crimes. Those rights include:
To be treated with fairness and respect, free from intimidation, harassment and abuse, throughout the criminal process
To be reasonably protected from the defendant and persons acting on the defendant’s behalf
To have the victim’s safety considered as a factor regarding bail and release conditions; (4) to prevent disclosure of private information
To refuse an interview or deposition request without a court order
To reasonably confer with the prosecuting agency, upon request, regarding the case
To reasonable notice of all public proceedings, upon request, at which the defendant and the prosecutor are entitled to be present and all parole or other post-conviction proceedings, in any court involving the release or sentencing, and at any parole proceeding
To timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the defendant
To provide information to any public officer or employee conducting presentence investigation
To be informed, upon request, of the conviction, sentence, place and time of incarceration, scheduled release date of the defendant and the release or the escape by the defendant from custody
To full and timely restitution
To prompt return of property when no longer needed for the case
To be informed, upon request, of post-conviction proceedings such as parole hearings
To have the safety of the victim’s and the victim’s family considered before any parole or other post-judgment release decision is made
To have all monetary payments collected from the defendant to first be applied to the victim’s restitution
To be specifically informed of the victim rights as stated in the Nevada Constitution
These provisions ensure that victims of crime in Nevada are afforded meaningful protections, respect, and support throughout the legal process, empowering them to navigate the system with confidence and dignity.