52:4B-36. Rights of crime victims and witnesses
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The Legislature
finds and declares that crime victims and witnesses are entitled
to the following rights:
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To be treated with
dignity and compassion by the criminal justice system;
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To be informed about
the criminal justice process;
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To be free from intimidation;
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To have inconveniences
associated with participation in the criminal justice process
minimized to the fullest extent possible;
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To make at least
one telephone call provided the call is reasonable in both length
and location called;
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To medical assistance
if, in the judgment of the law enforcement agency, medical assistance
appears necessary;
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To be notified if
presence in court is not needed;
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To be informed about
available remedies, financial assistance and social services;
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To be compensated
for their loss whenever possible;
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To be provided a
secure, but not necessarily separate, waiting area during court
proceedings;
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To be advised of
case progress and final disposition;
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To the prompt return
of property when no longer needed as evidence;
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To submit a written
statement about the impact of the crime to a representative
of the county prosecutor's office which shall be considered
prior to the prosecutor's final decision concerning whether
formal criminal charges will be filed; and
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To make, prior to
sentencing, an in-person statement directly to the sentencing
court concerning the impact of the crime.
This statement is
to be made in addition to the statement permitted for inclusion
in the presentence report by N.J.S. 2C:44-6.
In any homicide prosecution
the victim's survivor may display directly to the sentencing
court at the time of this statement a photograph of the victim
taken before the homicide.
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