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Rights for Victims of Crime in Pennsylvania
If you are a victim of crime in Pennsylvania, you have the following rights.
Immediately after the crime happens, you have the right:
- To be told what services can help you.
- To be told when a suspect is arrested.
- To be told when the prosecutor files a complaint relating to the crime.
- To be told if the offender is held or released after arrest.
- To be told if the offender escapes before a trial or hearing.
- To tell the court how you feel if the charges may be dropped or reduced.
- To tell the court how you feel if the offender changes his or her plea.
When you have a protection from abuse order (PFA), you must be told immediately if the offender is released on bail.
When the case goes to court, you have the right:
- To have someone go with you to court hearings. This can be a family member,friend or victim advocate.
- To tell the court how the crime hurt you before the charges are changed.
- To attend a trial. You can go even if you will be giving your opinion when the court decides the punishment.
- To tell the judge or court how the crime hurt you before the offender is punished.
- To be told if the court suggests that the offender go to “boot camp.” You can tell the court how you feel about
the offender going to boot camp.
If the offender is sent to state prison or a local jail, you have the right:
- To be told when the offender leaves jail or prison.
- To tell the court how you feel about the offender’s work release or medical release.
- To be told if the offender escapes and when the offender is caught.
- To be told if the offender is moved from jail or prison to a mental health facility. You must be told if the offender
leaves or escapes that facility.
- To tell the court how you feel about the offender being released from prison or jail.
If the offender is resentenced, you have the right:
- To be told about any resentencing decisions.
- To tell the court how you feel about the resentencing.
If a prosecutor asks for early parole for an offender who does not qualify for early parole, you have the right:
- To be told by the prosecutor that he or she has made this request.
- To tell the judge what you think about this.
If the offender is sentenced to execution, you have the right:
- To be at the execution. You must first register with the Office of the Victim Advocate and be chosen to attend.
You also have the right:
- To be told when the court no longer has authority over the offender.
- To have your property returned when it is no longer needed for evidence.
- To be paid back by the offender. This is called restitution.
- To have a victim advocate help you file a claim with the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP). VCAP
can pay back money you spent or lost because of a crime. It could pay for medical bills, counseling, lost pay,
funeral costs, child care or stolen cash.
Rights for Victims of Juvenile Crime
If the person who hurt you is a juvenile (under age 18), you also have the following rights:
- You have the right to be told how the juvenile will be held accountable for the crime.
- The judge may decide to review the juvenile’s case. You can ask to give the court your opinion on any changes
that are made. You can write a letter or speak in court.
- When the juvenile is sent to live somewhere other than his or her home, you can ask to be told:
– When the juvenile leaves the facility for any reason.
– If the juvenile escapes or doesn’t come back.
– When the juvenile is caught.
– When the juvenile is moved from one place to another.
- You also have the right to write a letter if you disagree with the juvenile being released or moved from one
place to another.
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