NH Victim's Bill of Rights
Victims of felonious crimes committed by an adult offender are entitled to the following rights under NH RSA 21-M:8-K
The Right:
- to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process.
- to be informed about the criminal justice process and how it progresses.
- to be free from intimidation and to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process.
- to be notified of all court proceedings.
- to attend trial and all other court proceedings the accused has the right to attend.
- to confer with the prosecution and to be consulted about the disposition of the case, including plea bargaining.
- to have inconveniences associated with participation in the criminal justice process minimized.
- to be notified if presence in court is not required.
- to be informed about available resources, financial assistance, and social services.
- to restitution, as granted under RSA 651:62-67 or any other applicable state law, or victim's compensation, under RSA 21-M:8-h or any other applicable state law, for their losses.
- to be provided a secure, but not necessarily separate, waiting area during court proceedings.
- to be advised of case progress and final disposition.
- of confidentiality of the victim's address, place of employment, and other personal information.
- to the prompt return of property when no longer needed as evidence.
- to have input in the probation pre-sentence report impact statement.
- to appear and make a written or oral victim impact statement at the sentencing of the defendant. No victim shall be subject to questioning by counsel when giving an impact statement. **
- to be notified of an appeal, an explanation of the appeal process, the time, place and result of the appeal, and the right to attend the appeal hearing.
- to be notified and to attend sentence review hearings and sentence reduction hearings.
- to be notified of any change of status such as prison release, permanent interstate transfer, or escape, and the date of the parole board hearing, when requested by the victim through the victim advocate.
- to address or submit a written statement for consideration by the parole board on the defendant's release and to be notified of the decision of the board, when requested by the victim through the victim advocate.
- to all federal and state constitutional rights guaranteed to all victims of crime on an equal basis, and notwithstanding the provisions of any laws on capital punishment, the right not to be discriminated against or have their rights as a victim denied, diminished, expanded, or enhanced on the basis of the victim's support for, opposition to, or neutrality on the death penalty.
- to access to restorative justice programs, including victim-initiated victim-offender dialogue programs offered through the department of corrections.