Child Victim Rights

  • To have all proceedings explained in language which can be easily understood by the child;
  • To have, whenever practical, a secure waiting area provided for the child during court proceedings, and to have a support person stay with the child;
  • To not have the name, address or photograph of the child victim disclosed to any agency outside the criminal justice system without the permission of the child or the child's guardian;
  • To have an advocate make recommendations to the prosecuting attorney about the child's ability to cooperate with the prosecution and the potential effects of prosecution upon the child;
  • To be provided information and referrals to agencies to assist the child and/or the child's family in dealing with the emotional impact of the crime and the legal proceedings;
  • To have an advocate to be present in court to provide emotional support to the child during testimony;
  • To inform the court as to the need to have other supportive persons present during the child's testimony;
  • To allow law enforcement agencies to enlist the services of other professional personnel such as child protective services, victim advocates, or prosecutorial staff trained to interview child victims.