What are the rights of a crime victim in Missouri?
Article 1, Section 32 of the Missouri State Constitution guarantees that crime victims have the right to:
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Be present at all criminal justice proceedings at which the defendant has such right -
Be informed and heard at guilty pleas, bail hearings, sentencing's, probation revocation hearings, and parole -
hearings -
Be informed of trials and preliminary hearings -
Restitution -
The speedy disposition and appellate review of cases -
Reasonable protection from the defendant or any person acting on behalf of the defendant -
Information concerning the release, escape, recapture or death of the accused while in custody or confinement -
Information about how the criminal justice system works, the rights and availability of services, and information about the crime
The rights of crime victims are further established and defined in the Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 595.209.
Who is eligible for these rights?
Section 595.209 of the Missouri Revised Statutes specifies that victims of certain dangerous felonies are automatically afforded these rights. Victims of all other crimes and witnesses of crimes are also guaranteed these rights but they must submit a written request to the appropriate agency (i.e. law enforcement agencies, juvenile authorities, custodial authorities, prosecutors, probation and parole, etc.) to ensure that their rights are afforded to them.
Rights Enforcement
In the event a victim feels his/her rights have been violated, the victim can submit a written complaint to MoCVSU in one of the following ways:
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Mail: Missouri Department of Public Safety, Crime Victim Services Unit, PO Box 749, Jefferson City, MO, 65102-0749 -
Email: CVSU@dps.mo.gov
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