On July 11, 2022, Governor Wolf signed Act 77 into law amending the Crime Victims Act (CVA). A crucial piece of this legislation makes explicit that crime victims will have legal standing at the statutory level as of September 8, 2022 (effective date of the Act). If a victim's rights are overlooked or violated, Act 77 gives victims expanded protection under the Victims' Bill of Rights.
The passage of this Act not only impacts victim service providers but also law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts, and post-conviction agencies.
Legal standing refers to a crime victims' ability to independently assert and enforce his or her victims' rights.
For additional information about the rights of victims of crime, please view these resources below:
Making Victims' Rights Meaningful: The Role of Advocates after Act 77 of 2022 Target Audience : Advocates( system- based and community based) Length : 1.5 hours
Overview: Every jurisdiction in this country -- including Pennsylvania -- has provided victims of crime legal rights in the criminal and juvenile justice systems for decades. These legal rights include the rights to privacy, protection, and fairness. Sadly, when these rights are not protected victims experience re-victimization, which can have tremendous negative impacts on the victim's mental and physical health and on the functioning of our justice systems. When victims' rights are protected and their voices are heard, both victims and the justice system benefit: victims can experience more empowerment while the justice system operates more effectively. With passage of Act 77 of 2022, victims now have a clearer path to assert and seek enforcement of their rights in courts. This is often called "standing" – but what is standing? And what is the role of advocates in protecting those rights? Presenters provided an overview of victims' rights assertion and enforcement, and through hypothetical scenarios help advocates ensure rights are protected.
Target Audience: Attorneys and Legal Advocates
Length: 2.5 hours
Overview: With passage of Act 77 of 2022, victims in Pennsylvania now have a clear path to assert and seek enforcement of their rights in juvenile/criminal court. But what does that look like? Presenters will share lessons from jurisdictions across the country that have passed similar laws. Presenters will describe what it looks like when victims with standing in juvenile/criminal courts assert and seek enforcement of their rights. The session reviewed the existing rights of crime victims in Pennsylvania, explore common legal challenges to victims' rights assertion, and successful legal strategies to overcome those challenges.
Victims' Rights Litigation After Act 77 of 2022
Target Audience : Attorneys and Legal Advocates
**participants should have taken Victims' Rights and Legal Standing-Understanding Act 77 training or have basic knowledge of rights enforcement training.
Length : 2.5 hours
Overview: Drawing on lessons from jurisdictions across the country, this session will offer practical strategies and guidance on the practice of rights enforcement as a result of the successful passage of Act 77 of 2022. Using case scenarios, the training will help attendees identify trauma-informed legal strategies for representing victims regarding assertion and enforcement of their rights in trial and appellate courts. The session included consideration of creating an effective trial court record to allow for effective, precedent-setting appellate review.