77-38-2.  Definitions.
     For the purposes of this chapter and the Utah Constitution:

(1)  “Abuse” means treating the crime victim in a manner so as to injure, damage, or disparage.

criminal case

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Utah Code 77-38-2

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • 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.
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Sidebar: A conference between the judge and lawyers held out of earshot of the jury and spectators.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • United States: includes each state, district, and territory of the United States of America. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2)  “Dignity” means treating the crime victim with worthiness, honor, and esteem.

(3)  “Fairness” means treating the crime victim reasonably, even-handedly, and impartially.

(4)  “Harassment” means treating the crime victim in a persistently annoying manner.

(5)  “Important criminal justice hearings” or “important juvenile justice hearings” means the following proceedings in felony criminal cases or cases involving a minor’s conduct which would be a felony if committed by an adult:

(a)  any preliminary hearing to determine probable cause;

(b)  any court arraignment where practical;

(c)  any court proceeding involving the disposition of charges against a defendant or minor or the delay of a previously scheduled trial date but not including any unanticipated proceeding to take an admission or a plea of guilty as charged to all charges previously filed or any plea taken at an initial appearance;

(d)  any court proceeding to determine whether to release a defendant or minor and, if so, under what conditions release may occur, excluding any such release determination made at an initial appearance;

(e)  any criminal or delinquency trial, excluding any actions at the trial that a court might take in camera, in chambers, or at a sidebar conference;

(f)  any court proceeding to determine the disposition of a minor or sentence, fine, or restitution of a defendant or to modify any disposition of a minor or sentence, fine, or restitution of a defendant;

(g)  a hearing regarding any criminal protective order described in 8; and

(h)  any public hearing concerning whether to grant a defendant or minor parole or other form of discretionary release from confinement.

(6)  “Reliable information” means information worthy of confidence, including any information whose use at sentencing is permitted by the United States Constitution.

(7)  “Representative of a victim” means a person who is designated by the victim or designated by the court and who represents the victim in the best interests of the victim.

(8)  “Respect” means treating the crime victim with regard and value.

(9) 

(a)  “Victim of a crime” means any natural person against whom the charged crime or conduct is alleged to have been perpetrated or attempted by the defendant or minor personally or as a party to the offense or conduct or, in the discretion of the court, against whom a related crime or act is alleged to have been perpetrated or attempted, unless the natural person is the accused or appears to be accountable or otherwise criminally responsible for or criminally involved in the crime or conduct or a crime or act arising from the same conduct, criminal episode, or plan as the crime is defined under the laws of this state.

(b)  For purposes of the right to be present, “victim of a crime” does not mean any person who is in custody as a pretrial detainee, as a prisoner following conviction for an offense, or as a juvenile who has committed an act that would be an offense if committed by an adult, or who is in custody for mental or psychological treatment.

(c)  For purposes of the right to be present and heard at a public hearing as provided in Subsection 77-38-2(5)(h) and the right to notice as provided in Subsection 77-38-3(7)(a), “victim of a crime” includes any victim originally named in the allegation of criminal conduct who is not a victim of the offense to which the defendant entered a negotiated plea of guilty.

Amended by Chapter 426, 2023 General Session

  Previous section
Next section  
 Part 1 Contents