General Information

What are my rights as a victim in Pennsylvania?

As a victim of a crime in Pennsylvania, you have the following rights:  to receive basic information concerning the services to assist you;  to be notified of certain significant actions and proceedings pertaining to your case, including, in personal injury crimes, the arrest of the suspect and escape from police custody;  to be accompanied at all public criminal proceedings by a family member, a victim advocate or another person;  in cases involving personal injury crimes, burglary, or driving under the influence involving bodily injury, to submit prior comment to the prosecutor's office on the potential reduction or dropping of any charge or changing of a plea;  to offer prior comment or to submit a written victim impact statement for the judge's consideration at sentencing;  to recover your losses, to the extent possible, through restitution, compensation through the crime victim's compensation program and the return of property which was seized as evidence when it is no longer needed by the prosecutor;  in personal injury crimes, where the offender is sentenced to a state prison, to provide prior comment on and to receive notice of release decisions, and to be immediately notified if the offender escapes;  to receive notice when an offender is committed to a mental health facility from a state prison and of the discharge, transfer, or escape of the offender from the mental health facility; and to have assistance in the preparation of, submission of, and follow-up on the financial assistance claims to the Crimes Victim's Compensation Board.