Alaska Statutes 12.61.010 – Rights of crime victims

(a) Victims of crimes have the following rights:

Attorney's Note

Under the Alaska Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:

Class	Prison	Fine
Class A misdemeanor	up to 1 year	up to $25,000

For details, see Alaska Stat. § 12.55.135

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Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 12.61.010

action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
writing: includes printing. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060

(1) the right to be present during any proceeding in

(A) the prosecution and sentencing of a defendant if the defendant has the right to be present, including being present during testimony even if the victim is likely to be called as a witness;

(B) the adjudication of a minor as provided under AS 47.12.110;

(2) the right to be notified by the appropriate law enforcement agency or the prosecuting attorney of any request for a continuance that may substantially delay the prosecution and of the date of trial, sentencing, including a proceeding before a three-judge panel under AS 12.55.175, an appeal, and any hearing in which the defendant’s release from custody is considered;

(3) the right to be notified that a sentencing hearing or a court proceeding to which the victim has been subpoenaed will not occur as scheduled;

(4) the right to receive protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts and to be provided with information as to the protection available;

(5) the right to be notified of the procedure to be followed to apply for and receive any compensation under Alaska Stat. Chapter 18.67;

(6) at the request of the prosecution or a law enforcement agency, the right to cooperate with the criminal justice process without loss of pay and other employee benefits except as authorized by AS 12.61.017 and without interference in any form by the employer of the victim of crime;

(7) the right to obtain access to immediate medical assistance and not to be detained for an unreasonable length of time by a law enforcement agency before having medical assistance administered; however, an employee of the law enforcement agency may, if necessary, accompany the person to a medical facility to question the person about the criminal incident if the questioning does not hinder the administration of medical assistance;

(8) the right to make a written or oral statement for use in preparation of the presentence report of a felony defendant;

(9) the right to appear personally at the defendant’s sentencing hearing to present a written statement and to give sworn testimony or an unsworn oral presentation;

(10) the right to be informed by the prosecuting attorney, at any time after the defendant’s conviction, about the complete record of the defendant’s convictions;

(11) the right to notice under AS 12.47.095 concerning the status of the defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity;

(12) the right to notice under AS 33.16.087 of a hearing concerning special medical parole of the defendant;

(13) the right to notice under AS 33.16.120 of a hearing to consider or review discretionary parole of the defendant;

(14) the right to notice under AS 33.30.013 of the release or escape of the defendant; and

(15) the right to be notified orally and in writing of and receive information about the office of victims’ rights from the law enforcement officer initially investigating the crime and from the prosecuting attorney assigned to the offense; at a minimum, the information provided must include the address, telephone number, and Internet address of the office of victims’ rights; this paragraph

(A) applies only to victims of felonies and to victims of class A misdemeanors if the class A misdemeanor is a crime involving domestic violence or a crime against a person under Alaska Stat. Chapter 11.41; if the victim is an unemancipated minor, the law enforcement officer and the prosecuting attorney shall also provide the notice required by this paragraph to the parent or guardian of the minor;

(B) is satisfied if, at the time of initial contact with the crime victim, the investigating officer and prosecuting attorney each give each crime victim a brochure or other written material prepared by the office of victims’ rights and provided to law enforcement agencies for that purpose.

(b) Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, corrections agencies, social services agencies, and the courts shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that victims of crimes have the rights set out in (a) of this section. However, a failure to ensure these rights does not give rise to a separate cause of action against law enforcement agencies, other agencies of the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

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