§ 5304.
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§ 5304. Victim Advocate Program
(a)The Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs shall maintain the Victim Advocate Program. Except as otherwise provided by law, victim advocates shall provide victims the following services:
(1)Information. Victims shall be informed as to the level of protection available, procedures to be followed in order to receive applicable witness fees, the right to seek restitution as an element of the final disposition of the case, and the right to appear at sentencing in accordance with section 7006 of this title.
(2)Notification. Victims shall be notified in a timely manner when a court proceeding involving their case is scheduled to take place and when a court proceeding to which they have been summoned will not take place as scheduled. Victims shall also be notified as to the final disposition of the case and shall be notified of their right to request notification of a person’s release or escape under section 5305 of this title. Notwithstanding this subdivision, the notification rights of victims of delinquent acts are governed by 33 V.S.A. chapters 52 and 52A.
(3)Services. Victims shall be entitled to:
(A)receive support from the victim advocate and referrals for further services;
(B)information and guidance in obtaining financial assistance and minimizing loss of pay or other benefits resulting from involvement in the criminal justice process;
(C)information and guidance in documenting and preparing requests for restitution and insurance reimbursement;
(D)assistance in obtaining protection through local law enforcement agencies from harm and threats of harm arising out of their cooperation with the court system;
(E)assistance in the return of property from law enforcement agencies; and
(F)assistance and support in dealing with law enforcement agencies.
(b)A victim may decline any service provided by the Victim Advocate Program under this section. (Added 1985, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1986; amended 1989, No. 290 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1991, No. 263 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1995, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; 2015, No. 97 (Adj. Sess.), § 75; 2021, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. June 1, 2022; 2023, No. 9, § 1, eff. April 25, 2023.)