Victims

AZ Victims' Bill of Rights

What is the Victims' Bill of Rights?

In 1990, Arizona voters passed an initiative creating the Arizona Victims’ Bill of Rights. The following year, legislation was implemented guaranteeing specific rights for crime victims.

Who must follow the rules in the Victims' Bill of Rights?

To ensure that crime victims can exercise these rights, Arizona law requires certain individuals and agencies involved in the criminal justice process to support these rights. This group includes law enforcement officials, prosecutors and lawyers, judges and court staff, corrections staff, and even the person who committed the crime. These people must actively support victims’ rights by sharing information or doing certain other things that are required of them.

Victim Services - State of Arizona

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is dedicated to a system of justice that is inclusive of crime victims and will remain vigilant in striving to provide the most efficient and effective service to the people of Arizona. The services provided to crime victims and the technical assistance and support provided to criminal justice agencies and other service providers is the responsibility of the Office of Victim Services.

The mission of the Attorney General’s Office of Victim Services is to promote justice and healing for people affected by crime in the state of Arizona. The Office of Victim Services is broken down into two primary facets, the advocacy and assistance provided to crime victims of cases prosecuted/argued by attorneys of the Attorney General’s Office and the leadership and agency support responsibilities that impact on the legal rights afforded to victims of crime in Arizona. These include: the Victims' Rights Program which provides financial assistance to criminal justice agencies, the Victims' Rights complaint process, and Victims' Rights Training.

VAPS - Victims Assistance Program (City of Maricopa)

Advocating for and empowering people in crisis.

Helping people in crisis and survivors of crime be heard, valued and supported.

The Victim Assistance Program (VAP) will advocate for and empower people in crisis and promote the rights and interests of victims, witnesses, families and communities affected by crime in all facets of the criminal justice system.

VAP Services provided:

. Education of Victim's Rights
. Crisis intervention and emotional support on scene and through investigations
. Information about the police investigations and/or criminal justice process
. Assistance with victim compensation claims
. Referral to community resources
. Assistance with Orders of Protection
. Phone Loan Program
. Court Accompaniment-Municipal Court
. Address Confidentiality Program

Arizona Department of Public Safety - VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) VICTIM ASSISTANCE

OVERVIEW/MISSION STATEMENT

Every victim of crime is entitled to safety, healing, justice and restitution. The mission of the Arizona Department of Public Safety's VOCA Administration Unit is to effectively administer VOCA Assistance funds by ensuring appropriate and accessible services are available to crime victims, enhancing the delivery of those services through technical assistance, training opportunities, and promoting a continuum of care for every victim in every community.

CRIME VICTIMS FUND

The Department of Justice, Crime Victims Fund was established by the Federal Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) and serves as a major funding source for victim services throughout the country. Each year, millions of dollars are deposited into this fund from criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalty fees and special assessments collected by the US Attorney’s Offices, US Courts and the Bureau of Prisons. These dollars all come from offenders convicted of federal crimes.