Victims’ Rights and Services

Crime victims have legal rights and access to services designed to protect safety, support recovery, and keep victims informed throughout the justice process.

Your Rights

Federal law, including the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, guarantees victims specific protections such as timely notice of proceedings, the right to be heard at key stages, and the right to seek restitution and protection from the accused (Department of Justice).Victims can also expect procedures for filing complaints when rights are not honored (Department of Justice).

Services and Support

A network of programs—federal agencies, state compensation funds, victim-witness programs, hotlines, and local crisis centers—provides emergency aid, counseling, case notifications, and help navigating courts and parole systems (Office for Victims of Crime; DEA Victim Witness Assistance Program). The Bureau of Prisons and other agencies maintain notification systems and resources for victims of federal crimes (Bureau of Prisons).

For survivors of sexual assault in the military, see the category article on the Military’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program for information about reporting options, advocates, and recovery services Military’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program.