Pennsylvania Bill of Rights For Victims

Victims of crime have the following rights:

1.  To receive basic information concerning the
services available for victims of crime.

2.  To be notified of certain significant actions and proceedings within the criminal justice system pertaining to the victim's case.

3.  To be accompanied to all public criminal proceedings by a family member, a victim advocate or another person.
4.  In cases involving personal injury crimes, burglary, or crimes relating to driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance which involve bodily injury, to submit prior comment to the prosecutor's office on the potential reduction or dropping of any charge or changing of a plea.
5.  To have opportunity to offer prior comment on the sentencing of a defendant, including submission of a written victim impact statement detailing the physical, psychological and economic effects of the crime on the victim and the victim's family, which statement shall be considered by the judge when determining the defendant's sentence.
6.  To be restored, to the extent possible, to the pre-crime economic status through the provision of restitution, compensation as provided under the Crime Victim's Compensation Program and the expeditious return of property.
7.  In personal injury crimes when the defendant is sentenced to a state correctional facility, to be given the opportunity to provide prior comment on, and to receive, state post-sentencing release decisions, including work release, furlough, parole, pardon or community treatment center placement and to be provided immediate notice of an escape of the offender.
7.1 In personal injury crimes where the offender is sentenced to a local correctional facility, to receive notice of the date of the release of the offender,
including, but not limited to, work release, furlough, parole or community treatment center placement and to be provided with immediate notice of an escape of the offender.
8.   To receive notice when an offender is committed to a mental health facility from a state correctional institution and of the discharge, transfer or escape of the offender from the mental health facility.
9.   To have assistance in the preparation of, submission of and follow-up on financial assistance claims to the Crime Victim's Compensation Board.