Do Crime Victims in Pennsylvania Know about their Legal Rights?
A recent news investigation found that more than one-third of Pennsylvania crime victims don’t know their rights – simply because these rights are not explained to them. It is a fact that victims of crime in Pennsylvania have legal rights. It is the job of law enforcement officials and prosecutors to explain those rights to them. Based on a report from www.thepittsburghchannel.com, about $27 million of the state’s tax dollars goes to “victim services” in Pennsylvania. But how much of it is really used for that purpose? Are victims really getting those services? Are they even being told that these services exist? This investigation found that victims are often not even told the status of their court cases.
The news agency talked to victims of drunk driving, assault, and identity theft – and discovered that they were are all saying the same thing – they had no idea what was going on with their case. One DUI victim apparently did not even know that the drunk driver who got convicted took a plea deal and was given a six-month probation.
If you are a victim of crime in Pennsylvania, please understand that the Crime Victim Bill of Rights requires that you be informed by law enforcement, as well as by the district attorney’s office, about what is happening with your case. However, the loophole here is that there are no sanctions when the law is being violated. Crime victims’ rights in Pennsylvania are valid and not only entitle individuals to compensation and restitution, but also access to various resources that provide them information about their case, the defendant and their own personal safety.
Monheit is the managing lawyer at Monheit Law, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has practiced law since 1989. Michael Monheit was the managing attorney of the law offices of Herbert Monheit — now Silverman and Fodera — a firm founded by... Michael Monheit→
