Rights for Victims of Certain Crimes

For purposes of the "Victim Rights Act", the bill prohibits a defendant or alleged offender from being the "lawful representative" of a victim or the victim's designee if the victim is a child or an at-risk adult.

The bill creates new rights for a victim under the "Victim Rights Act", including the right to:

• Be notified by the district attorney if the district attorney receives a notice that a crime laboratory employee engaged in a wrongful action that includes a crime against the victim and a notice that an evidentiary hearing on post-conviction petition for relief is held;
• Be referred to by an abbreviation, pseudonym, initials, or another preferred name during hearings and in communications;
• Request forensic medical evidence collected be retested if a crime laboratory employee engaged in wrongful action; and
• Be heard at a court proceeding involving an application to the court for the issuance of a subpoena for restitution records.
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)