OLR Report 2013-R-0360 summarizes how Connecticut law defines the term “crime victim.”
Crime victims are provided certain rights under Connecticut law. In criminal proceedings, the state constitution grants a crime victim a number of rights including notifications, attendance at court proceedings, restitution, and access to certain information. The term “crime victim” is, however, not defined under the state constitution but is left instead to be defined by the legislature.
The statutes contain at least seven different definitions of the term “crime victim.” But these definitions can be grouped into two categories based on their similarities. Definitions in the first category are based on the general definition of a “crime victim” that is used throughout the statutes unless another definition applies. Two other statutory definitions expand upon this definition in different ways to allow additional people to receive certain notices and provide certain testimony. Definitions in the second category are based on the definition of “victim” for purposes of services provided by the Judicial Branch’s Office of Victim Services (OVS). Three other statutory definitions expand upon this definition in different ways to make additional people eligible to receive certain notices, compensation, and restitution services.
For more information, read the full report.
