 OOhioOhio Crime Victims Hotline614-466-6480
Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. Ohio does have a constitutional amendment that includes rights for crime victims. It was passed in 1994. This amendment reads as follows: Victims of criminal offenses shall be accorded fairness, dignity, and respect in the criminal justice process, and, as the General Assembly shall define and provide by law, shall be accorded rights to reasonable and appropriate notice, information, access, and protection and to a meaningful role in the criminal justice process. This section does not confer upon any person a right to appeal or modify any decision in a criminal proceeding, does not abridge any other right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States or this Constitution, and does not create any cause of action for compensation or damages against the State, any political subdivision of the State, any officer, employee, or agent of the State or of any political subdivision, or any officer of the court.
OklahomaOklahoma Coalition for Crime Victim's Rights, Inc.
Oklahoma Crime Victims Hotline
District Attorneys Office, District #22
District Attorneys Office, District . #3
District Attorneys Office, District #2
District Attorneys Office, District #20
District Attorneys Office, District #6
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DISTRICT #19
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DISTRICT #4
NEW DIRECTIONS, INC.
District Attorney Office, Dist. #17
Homicide Survivors, Oklahoma City Police Department Oklahoma does have a constitutional amendment that includes rights for crime victims. It was passed in 1996. This amendment reads as follows: Article II, Section 34. A. To preserve and protect the rights of victims to justice and due process and ensure that victims are treated with fairness, respect and dignity and are free from intimidation, harassment or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process, any victim or family member of a victim of a crime has the right to know the status of the investigation and prosecution of the criminal case, including all proceedings wherein a disposition of a case is likely to occur, and where plea negotiations may occur. The victim or family member of a victim of a crime has the right to know the location of the defendant following an arrest, during a prosecution of the criminal case, during a sentence to probation or confinement, and when there is any release or escape of the defendant from confinement. The victim or family member of a victim of a crime has a right to be present at any proceeding where the defendant has a right to be present, to be heard at any sentencing or parole hearing, to be awarded restitution by the convicted person for damages or losses as determined and ordered by the court, and to be informed by the state of the constitutional rights of the victim. B. An exercise of any right by a victim or family member of a victim or the failure to provide a victim or family member of a victim any right granted by this section shall not be grounds for dismissing any criminal proceeding or setting aside any conviction or sentence. C. The Legislature, or the people by initiative or referendum, has the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to define, implement, preserve and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section, including the authority to extend any of these rights to juvenile proceedings and if enacted by the Legislature, youthful offender proceedings. D. The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights for victims shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights granted by the Legislature or retained by victims.
OregonBenton Co. DA's/Vict. Ass't ProgramBenton County Courthouse Corvallis, OR 97330 (503) 757-6815
Clackamas County District Attorney
Clatsop Co. Women's Resource Center
CLATSOP COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COLUMBIA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Columbia Co. Women's Resource Center
COOS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
CROOK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DOUGY CENTER A resource for children who are grieving, with 15 support groups in Oregon. Can provide referrals to regional and national support groups, including grief support programs specifically geared toward children.
HARNEY CO. DA'S/VICT. ASS'T. PROGRAM
Homicide Survivors Grief Support Group
Hood River DA
JACKSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
JEFFERSON CO. DA'S/VICT. ASS'T PROG.
JOSEPHINE CO. DA'S-VICTIM ASS'T PROG.
Lane Co. DA's/Victim Assist. Program
LINCOLN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Linn Co. District Attorney
MALHEUR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
MARION CO. DA'S OFFICE/VICT. ASS'T PG
MOTHER OAK'S CHILD, INC.
MULTNOMAH CO. DA'S OFF./V/A PROGRAM
Oregon Crime Victims Hotline
PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN
POLK CO. DA'S/VICTIM ASS'T. PROGRAM
REEDSPORT TASK FORCE
TILLAMOOK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY/VAP
UNION CO. DA'S/VICT. ASS'T. PROGRAM
WASCO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
YAMHILL COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY/VAP Voters in Oregon ratified a crime victims' rights amendment to that state's constitution in 1996. The amendment received 59% of the vote. However, the amendment was invalidated by the Oregon Supreme Court in 1998, on the grounds that the amendment combined several distinct constitutional amendments that should have been voted on separately. Oregon advocates quickly proposed a new amendment, which was ratified by the voters in 1999 with 58% support. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section to be added to and made a part of Article I, such section to read: (1) To preserve and protect the right of crime victims to justice, to ensure crime victims a meaningful role in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to accord crime victims due dignity and respect and to ensure that criminal and juvenile court delinquency proceedings are conducted to seek the truth as to the defendant's innocence or guilt, and also to ensure that a fair balance is struck between the rights of crime victims and the rights of criminal defendants in the course and conduct of criminal and juvenile court delinquency proceedings, the following rights are hereby granted to victims in all prosecutions for crimes and in juvenile court delinquency proceedings: (a) The right to be present at and, upon specific request, to be informed in advance of any critical stage of the proceedings held in open court when the defendant will be present, and to be heard at the pretrial release hearing and the sentencing or juvenile court delinquency disposition; (b) The right, upon request, to obtain information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, criminal history and future release from physical custody of the criminal defendant or convicted criminal and equivalent information regarding the alleged youth offender or youth offender; (c) The right to refuse an interview, deposition or other discovery request by the criminal defendant or other person acting on behalf of the criminal defendant provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall restrict any other constitutional right of the defendant to discovery against the state; (d) The right to receive prompt restitution from the convicted criminal who caused the victim's loss or injury; (e) The right to have a copy of a transcript of any court proceeding in open court, if one is otherwise prepared; (f) The right to be consulted, upon request, regarding plea negotiations involving any violent felony; and (g) The right to be informed of these rights as soon as practicable. (2) This section applies to all criminal and juvenile court delinquency proceedings pending or commenced on or after the effective date of this section. Nothing in this section reduces a criminal defendant's rights under the Constitution of the United States. Except as otherwise specifically provided, this section supersedes any conflicting section of this Constitution. Nothing in this section is intended to create any cause of action for compensation or damages nor may this section be used to invalidate an accusatory instrument, ruling of a court, conviction or adjudication or otherwise suspend or terminate any criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings at any point after the case is commenced or on appeal. (3) As used in this section: (a) 'Convicted criminal' includes a youth offender in juvenile court delinquency proceedings. (b) 'Criminal defendant' includes an alleged youth offender in juvenile court delinquency proceedings. (c) 'Victim' means any person determined by the prosecuting attorney to have suffered direct financial, psychological or physical harm as a result of a crime and, in the case of a victim who is a minor, the legal guardian of the minor. In the event that no person has been determined to be a victim of the crime, the people of Oregon, represented by the prosecuting attorney, are considered to be the victims. In no event is it intended that the criminal defendant be considered the victim. (d) 'Violent felony' means a felony in which there was actual or threatened serious physical injury to a victim or a felony sexual offense.
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