Your Rights as a Crime Victim

The courtroom in a murder case.

Since 1986, crime victims in Missouri have had certain basic rights:

1. To be assisted by the criminal justice system.

2. To be kept informed of the developments at each critical stage of the prosecution.

3. To be provided an opportunity to have direct input into the court decisions by submitting a Victim Impact Statement to the court.

4. To be free from threats and intimidation, and to have reasonable protection from the defendant or any person acting on behalf of the defendant.

5. To speak or not with representatives of the defendant as you choose.

6. To be informed of and assisted by Social Service programs and organizations providing assistance to crime victims.

7. To be present at all guilty pleas, bail hearings, sentencing, probation hearings or parole hearings of the defendant, if you so choose.

8. To have a speedy disposition of your case.

9. The right to restitution, to the extent it can lawfully be collected from the defendant through the criminal process.