SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO VICTIMS OF CRIME.

SEC. 506. SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO VICTIMS OF CRIME. It is the sense of Congress that the States should make every effort to adopt the following goals of the Victims of Crime Bill of Rights: (1) Victims of crime should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity throughout the criminal justice process. (2) Victims of crime should be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process. (3) Victims of crime should have a statutorily designated advisory role in decisions involving prosecutorial discretion, such as the decision to plea-bargain. (4) Victims of crime should have the right to a reasonable assurance that the accused will be tried in an expeditious manner. . (5) A victim of crime should have the right to be present at all proceedings related to the offense against him, unless the victim is to testify and the court determines that the victim’s testimony would be materially prejudiced by hearing other testimony at the trial. (6) Victims of crime should have the right to information about the conviction, sentencing and imprisonment of the person who committed the crime against them. (7) Victims of crime should be compensated for the damage resulting from the crime to the fullest extent possible by the person convicted of the crime. (8) Victims of crime should have a statutorily designated advisory role in deciding the early release status of the person convicted of the crime against them. 104 STAT. 4823 (9) A victim of crime should never be forced to endure again the emotional and physical consequences of the original crime.