VICTIM SERVICES

The Arizona Victims' Bill of Rights passed by voters in 1990 made Arizona the first state to have a comprehensive constitutional bill of rights for victims. Ensuring that victims are not re-victimized by the criminal justice system is one of our top priorities at the Gila County Attorney's Office.

Victim Advocates are available to assist victims of all crimes prosecuted by the County Attorney's Office. In 2010, our advocates served more than 1,600 victims and helped them get through the judicial process and on with their lives.

The mission of the Gila County Attorney’s Office of Victim Services is to assist victims of crime in a timely, efficient and compassionate manner; to advocate for the protection of their rights, understanding of those rights and procedures for exercising those rights.

Summary of Arizona’s Victims’ Rights

• To be informed of rights at various stages of the process
• To be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity
• To receive notice of proceedings
• To receive notice of offender’s release
• To attend proceedings
• To be heard at proceedings
• To confer with the prosecutor
• To a speedy trial and disposition
• To refuse an interview with the Defendant or defense attorney
• To prompt restitution

This is only a partial listing of the Arizona Victims’ Rights Statutes. Below you will find the location of all Victims’ Rights Statutes within the Arizona Revised Statutes according to title, and a link to the Arizona State Legislature website to view all Victims’ Rights’ laws.

Title 13, Chapter 40 - Crime Victims’ Rights

Title 8, Chapter 3, Article 7 - Victims’ Rights for Juvenile Offenses

WHO IS A VICTIM?

"Victim" means a person against whom the criminal offense has been committed, including a minor, or if the person is killed or incapacitated, the person's spouse, parent, child, grandparent or sibling, any other person related to the person by consanguinity or affinity to the second degree or any other lawful representative of the person, except if the person or the person's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, other person related to the person by consanguinity or affinity to the second degree or other lawful representative is in custody for an offense or is the accused. ( A.R.S. § 13-4401(19))

Criminal and juvenile justice statutes allow a victim who is physically or emotionally unable to exercise any right but is able to designate a lawful representative who is not a bona fide witness, the designated person may exercise the same rights that the victim is entitled to exercise. The victim may revoke this designation at any time and exercise the victim's rights.

If a victim is incompetent, deceased or otherwise incapable of designating another person to act in the victim's place, the court may appoint a lawful representative who is not a witness. If at any time the victim is no longer incompetent, incapacitated or otherwise incapable of acting, the victim may personally exercise the victim's rights.