Crime Victims' Rights

Victims of crime are guaranteed certain rights and participation in the criminal justice system under Texas law. The Crime Victims' Rights are within the Texas Constitution Article 1, § 30 and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Subchapter B. These rights, which are listed below, are current through the Regular Session of the 89th Legislature.

In order to exercise your rights as a crime victim it is necessary to contact crime victim service providers to discuss and request, if applicable, your rights and available services. Your local district or county attorney's office, law enforcement agency, or supervising agency (probation or prison) have crime victim service providers and staff available to assist you.

If you have any questions regarding these rights and how to exercise them, please contact the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division at (800) 848-4284 or by e-mail at victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov.

You have the right to:

be treated with fairness and respect
be reasonably protected from harm or threats from the accused
have your safety considered in setting bail
receive information regarding compensation (Crime Victims’ Compensation)
be informed of the uses of a Victim Impact Statement and the statement’s purpose
submit a Victim Impact Statement and have it considered by the prosecution, judge, and Board of Pardons and Paroles
privacy - as far as is reasonably practical, the contact information of the victim may not be part of the court file
have the court consider the impact of a continuance on family violence victims or victims of assault or sexual assault younger than 17
be present at all public proceedings, subject to the approval of the judge
have the attorney for the state notify your employer if you must be absent from work in order to attend court
have a waiting area in the courthouse separate from the defendant, his/her family, and witnesses
prompt return of property after it is no longer needed as evidence
provide information to the probation department concerning the impact of the offense
seek financial remedies
receive written explanation of defense-initiated victim outreach, for capital felonies
request victim-offender mediation dialogue

If requested, the right to:

be informed about procedures in criminal investigations and the defendant’s right to bail
be informed about court proceedings
confer with a representative of the prosecutor’s office
be informed about general procedures in the criminal justice system, including plea negotiations, arrangements, restitution, appeals, and parole
be informed about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment, and release of the defendant
be informed of parole proceedings and your right to participate and provide information to be considered by the board

If the crime was sexual in nature, the right to:

have a trained advocate present during a forensic medical examination and law enforcement interview
file an application for a protective order against the defendant for certain offenses
counseling and testing for AIDS and HIV-related infections

The Texas Constitution:

Article 1. Bill of Rights, § 30. Rights of Crime Victims

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure:

Article 56A.001 – Definitions
Article 56A.051 – General Rights
Article. 56A.052 – Additional Rights of Victims of Certain Sexual, Trafficking, or Burglary Offenses
Article. 56A.0525 – Authorized Form of Notifications
Article 56A.0521 – Additional Rights of Victims of Certain Family Violence Offenses, Stalking, and Violation of Protective Order or Condition of Bond
Article 56A.053 – Failure to Provide Right or Service Article 56A.0531 – Assertion of Rights
Article 56A.054 – Standing

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE