Post Conviction Practitioner Resource Center

Victims’ Rights

It is important to acknowledge that a case is not “over” after a conviction occurs and that victims and survivors continue to have legal rights post-conviction, including throughout the convicted person’s confinement and around release.

Informing victims and survivors of their rights during conviction review and the exoneration process not only conforms with the law but also can help alleviate stress and grief, as well as provide victims with a sense of safety and support. Depending on federal, state, and tribal law, these rights commonly include the right to:

  • Be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Safety and security
  • Be informed about the status of the case
  • Confer with the state’s attorney
  • Be heard and participate in the criminal justice process
  • Restitution
  • Re-apply for compensation

You can learn more about post-conviction case activity and victims’ rights in your state at the website linked here.

PCRC State Guides