Victim's Rights

Minnesota law provides victims of crime with specific rights as listed in Minnesota State Statute 611A.

Right to be Notified

By law, victims of crime are to be notified of:

Appeals filed by the defendant, the right to attend the oral argument or hearing, and the right to be notified of the final disposition
Changes in court proceeding schedule when a victim has been subpoenaed or requested to testify
Contents of any plea agreement
Final disposition of the case
Information on the nearest crime victim assistance program or resource
Offender's petition for expungement
Petition to civilly commit an offender, outcome of that petition, and notice of the offender’s possible discharge/release from civil commitment
Proposed sentence modifications for the offender, including the date, time, and location of the review and the right to provide input
Prosecution process and the right to participate in it
Release or escape of the offender from prison or a custodial institution or transfer to a lower security facility
Right to apply for reparations
Right to request restitution
Their rights

Victims of crime have the right to:

A secure waiting area during court proceedings
Protection against employer retaliation for victims and witnesses called to testify and for victims of violent crimes and their family members who take reasonable time off to attend court proceedings. Tampering with a witness is a crime and should be reported.
Request that home and employment address, telephone number, and birth date be withheld in open court
Request that law enforcement agency withhold their identity from the public

Victims of crime have the right to:

Be present at the sentencing and plea presentation hearings
Inform the court at the sentencing hearing of social and economic impact of crime on persons and businesses in the community
Inform the court of the impact of crime orally or in writing at the sentencing hearing
Object orally or in writing to a plea agreement at the plea presentation hearing
Object orally or in writing to a proposed disposition or sentence
Provide input in a pretrial diversion decision
Request a speedy trial
Submit a statement regarding the decision to discharge/release the offender from civil commitment

Victims of violent crime may:

Apply for financial assistance (reparations) from the state if they have suffered economic loss as a result of the crime
Request that a probation violation hearing be scheduled 60 days prior to the expiration of probation if restitution has not been paid
Request the court to order the defendant to pay restitution if the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty

These victims of crime have a right to:

Be informed of prosecutor’s decision to decline prosecution or dismiss the case along with information about seeking a protective or harassment order at no fee
Domestic abuse victims have the ability to terminate a lease without penalty
Protection against employer retaliation for victims to take reasonable time off to attend order for protection or harassment restraining order proceedings
Sexual assault victims can make a confidential request for HIV testing of a convicted offender
Sexual assault victims do not have to pay the cost of a sexual assault examination
Sexual assault victims may not be required to undergo a polygraph examination in order for an investigation or prosecution to proceed