National Crime Victims' Rights Week
If you’ve been the victim of a crime, you have the right to be heard at sentencing and to be notified if an offender is released. You might be eligible for compensation. Most of all, you have the right to fairness, dignity and respect.
April 10th through the 16th is National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
The Attorney General's Office is committed to making our communities safer. In the 2010 Legislative Session, several AG-requested community safety bills were overwhelmingly supported by the Legislature, including:
- HB 2424, restricting child pornography: Combats the rape and molestation of children by pursuing abusers who video-record their crimes, and the underground market that trades in the resulting images.
- HB 2777, enhancing domestic violence sentences: Just as the law gives extra penalties to serial car thieves and drug dealers, this proposal clamps down on repeat domestic abusers. HB 2777 includes the sentencing provisions recommended by the AGO’s Domestic Violence Task Force.
- SB 6202, improving protections for vulnerable adults: provides longer sentences for those who commit crimes against seniors and those with disabilities, and formally authorizes financial institutions to freeze a transaction for up to three business days if financial exploitation is suspected.
If you’ve been the victim of a crime and would like to learn more about your rights, visit the Washington Coalition of Crime Victim Advocates, the state Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, or call 1-800-FYI-CALL.