U.S. Attorney Recognizes 20th Anniversary of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act

Springfield, Ill. – On October 30, 2004, the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) was passed, providing crime victims participatory rights in the federal criminal justice system. Please join U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris in taking a moment to reflect on the 20^th anniversary of this landmark legislation.

Prior to the CVRA, there were no requirements to inform a victim of court proceedings, and families would be left out of the process. The families of murder victims Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, and Nila Lynn experienced this exclusion, ultimately influencing the creation of CVRA. Federal crime victims are now afforded substantive rights and there are mechanisms in place to enforce those rights.   

RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS.--A crime victim has the following rights:
(1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
(2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
(3) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.
(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
(10) The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.

In the Central District of Illinois prosecutions often include violent crime, child exploitation, elder fraud, and other forms of fraud. In July, 2024 the family of a murder victim participated in the trial proceedings that resulted in the conviction Kevin Marshall of Carjacking Resulting in Death and Murder; in August, 2024 several victims testified in the trial that resulted in the conviction of Emmanuel Howard and Evander Jordan, for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Firearms Charges; in October, 2024, a kidnapping victim watched the trial that resulted in Ademeko Maclin-Carney and Ausarian Carney being convicted of his kidnapping in 2022. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to seeking justice and treating all victims with dignity and respect. Protecting the rights of victims is an integral part of the criminal justice system before, during, and after court proceedings. If you would like more information regarding crime victim rights and victim services in the Central District of Illinois, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil