Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic
protecting and promoting the legal rights of Utah crime victims
What legal rights do crime victims have in Utah?

In recent years, the Utah State Legislature has passed a number of provisions in a continuing attempt to afford victims the rights that they deserve. In 1994, numerous governmental and non-profit groups with the help of the citizenry, drafted and passed a Victims' Rights Amendment to the Utah Constitution.

Defendants' rights have always been defined by the Constitution, and now similar rights are guaranteed for victims. Today, victims of crime have rights that are protected by law.

Victims' rights in Utah include:

The right to be treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity
The right to a speedy resolution of their case
The right to be informed and assisted
The right to an explanation of the legal proceedings and any plea negotiations
The right to notice of all important criminal justice proceedings
The right to be present in the courtroom for all important hearings
The right to be free from threats and intimidation
The right to privacy
The right to be heard at sentencing
The right to restitution and reparations for their losses
In addition, child victims have:

The right to have the process conducted in the most effective and least traumatic, intrusive, and intimidating manner

The right to have interviews related to criminal prosecution kept to a minimum and conducted in an age-appropriate way
How does the Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic help crime victims?

The Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic (UCVLC) provides free legal representation to crime victims when victims' rights issues are at stake. The Legal Clinic is available to serve victims of all types of crime and has a statewide focus.*

UCVLC has three goals:

1) to provide free legal services to crime victims in criminal district, justice, juvenile and appellate courts
2) to recruit and train a roster of pro bono attorneys and law students to provide legal services to victims
3) to provide education to criminal justice professionals on victims' rights

If you are a crime victim, the family member of a crime victim, or someone who would like to help crime victims, please contact the UCVLC.
*Note: The Legal Clinic uses a case screening process; priority will be given to cases where victims’ rights (as outlined above), are being denied or violated.

This project is supported by Subaward funding awarded by the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) under a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (Grant No. 2002-VF-GX-K004). Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or of NCVLI.
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