The Rights of Victims of Crimes

If you need to speak to someone about your case, please contact the RTD Transit Police Department at 303.299.3239.

RTD Transit Police Department
1900 31st Street
Denver, CO 80216
303.299.3239 TTY: 711
rtd-denver.com

Investigations
303.299.3239
[email protected]

Victim Services
303.299.3223
[email protected]

If all local efforts to obtain your rights have failed, you may request assistance from the Crime Victim Services Advisory Board.

Division of Criminal Justice
700 Kipling Street, Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80215
303.239.5719
dcj.colorado.gov

The Constitution of the State of Colorado and the laws of the state C.R.S. § 24-4.1302 (1) guarantee certain rights to the victims of the following criminal acts:

• Arson 1st degree
• Assault or vehicular assault
• Bias motivated crimes
• Burglary – 1st and 2nd degree (dwelling)
• Careless driving that results in serious bodily injury
• Careless driving that results in the death of another person
• Child abuse
• Child prostitution
• Crimes against at-risk adults of juveniles
• Crimes identified by law enforcement as domestic violence
• Criminal invasion of privacy
• Criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide
• Failure to stop at the scene of an accident that results in the death of or serious bodily injury of another person
• Harassment of a Transit Worker
• Human Trafficking in adults or children
• Incest and aggravated incest
• Indecent exposure or invasion of privacy for sexual gratification
• Intimidating and aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim
• Kidnapping
• Manslaughter
• Menacing
• Murder – 1st and 2nd degree
• Posting a private image for harassment or pecuniary gain
• Retaliation against a judge, juror, prosecutor, or elected official
• Retaliation against a victim or witness
• Robbery
• Sexual Assault on an adult or child
• Stalking
• Tampering with a victim or witness
• Unlawful sexual contact
• Violation of criminal protection order issued against a person charged with sexual assault of stalking

If the victim is deceased or incapacitated, these rights may be exercised by the victim’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, significant other, or other lawful representative.

• Be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity
• Be informed of and present for all critical stages of the criminal justice process
• Be informed about what steps can be taken and protections can be afforded if he/she is subjected to any intimidation or harassment
• Notification of any change in the status of the accused including release or discharge from the county jail
• Information on charges filed
• Information on charges not filed in misdemeanor cases
• Have Social Security number redacted from criminal justice documents if released to the public
• Assurance of swift and fair resolution of the proceedings
• Consult with the District Attorney prior to any disposition of the case or before it goes to trial and be informed of the final disposition
• Be informed of the status of the case and any scheduling changes or cancellations
• Prepare a Victim Impact Statement and be present and/or heard at sentencing
• Restitution and be informed of the right to pursue a civil judgment
• Prompt return of the victim’s property when no longer needed as evidence
• Information regarding financial assistance and community services
• Appropriate employer intercession services regarding court appearances and meetings with criminal justice officials
• Whenever practicable, be able to have a safe, secure waiting area
• Be informed of the results of any court-ordered HIV testing
• Be informed of any post-conviction proceedings related to DNA issues
• Upon request, provide victims of cold cases for which the crime has a statute of limitations of longer than 3 years, an annual update concerning the status of the case
• Be informed of any rights which the victim has pursuant to the Constitution of the United States or the State of Colorado
• Request a copy of the law enforcement report and other documents related to the case, including the right to receive a free copy of the initial incident report (The release of any such documents associated with the investigation is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency based on the status of the case)
• If a victim or a victim’s designee is unavailable to be present for the critical stages described in this section and the victim or the victim’s designee wishes to address the court, the right to request that the court, within the court’s resources, arrange and provide the means for the victim or the victim’s designee to provide input to the court beyond a written victim impact statement
• Be informed of the existence of a criminal protection order under section 18-1-1001, C.R.S. or section 19-2-707 C.R.S., and upon request of the victim, information about provisions that may be added or modified, and the process for requesting such an addition or modification
• Disclosure by agent of defense-initiated victim outreach
• Be heard if there is a hearing for sealing of records or expungement of juvenile records

After conviction of a crime against a victim, your state or local correctional authorities will provide you the following information:

• The institution where the person is incarcerated or otherwise being held
• The projected release date of the person
• Any release of the person, including furlough, work release, or community corrections in advance of release
• Escape of the person
• Any release or discharge from confinement of the person and conditions of that release
• The death of the person while in a correctional facility or program

As a victim of the crimes listed, you may be entitled to the following services:

• Immediate crisis intervention and follow-up support
• Special services for juvenile, elderly, or victims with disabilities
• Referral to public and private individuals and organizations for:
  • Medical and emergency services
  • Mental health and social services
  • Financial assistance
  • Translation or interpretation
  • Intervention with creditors, landlords, and employers
  • Legal resources
  • Transportation and childcare
  • Victim/offender dialogue
  • Victim compensation services

If the suspect in your case has been arrested, you will be registered for VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), an automated notification system that will provide the offender’s custody status via call, text or email.

To modify or opt out of offender status notifications, visit vinelink.com or call 1.888.263.8463.

Crime Victim Compensation Fund (CVC) is a victim service program to help crime victims recover financially from the physical and emotion injuries caused during a criminal act. The CVC fund can help victims pay for specific crime-related expenses or losses. Apply and learn more at covictimcomp.org.

You may qualify to apply for financial assistance from each of the judicial districts. Contact the District Attorney’s office in your county for an application and more information on Victim Compensation.

Protection or restraining orders can help stop harassment, retaliation, intimidation, and other specific acts against individuals named as a “Protected Person.” For more information, visit coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/getting-protection-order.

For more information on obtaining a copy of your case report, please contact the RTD Transit Police Department at 303.299.3213 or [email protected].

You may also contact the Victim/Witness Unit in the District Attorney’s Office in which your case was filed.

If you have questions concerning the prosecution or court status of your case, please contact the Victim/Witness Unit in the District Attorney’s Office in which your case was filed.

Adams County
1000 Judicial Center Drive
Brighton, CO 80601
303.659.7735

Arapahoe County
6450 S. Revere Pkwy
Centennial, CO 80111
720.874.8500

Boulder County
1777 6th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303.441.3794

Douglas County
4000 Justice Way
Castle Rock, CO 80109
720.733.4531

Broomfield County
17 DesCombes Drive
Broomfield, CO 80020
303.659.7735

Denver County
520 W. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204
720.913.9000

Jefferson County
500 Jefferson County Pkwy
Golden, CO 80401
303.271.6800

Weld County
915 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
970.400.4746

The U nonimmigrant status (U Visa) provides crime victims temporary immigration status. Contact the Victim/Witness Unit in the District Attorney’s Office in which your case was filed. Learn more at uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-of-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status.

If you feel your rights have not been honored as a crime victim, contact the Victim/Witness Unit in the District Attorney’s Office in which your case was filed.

If all local efforts to obtain your rights have failed, you may request assistance from the Crime Victim Services Advisory Board.

Division of Criminal Justice
700 Kipling St, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80215
303.239.5719
dcj.colorado.gov

Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 24-4.1-302.5 grants crime victims the following rights:

• Notification when forensic medical evidence is submitted to an accredited crime lab
• Notification of DNA analysis results
• Be informed if DNA was obtained from the analysis and if there are matches in state or federal databases.
• Be informed at least sixty days before evidence destruction with the option to file an objection with the law enforcement agency, Colorado bureau of investigation or crime lab
• Notification of any change in case status
• A physical copy of your rights following the exam

If you agreed to evidence analysis, you will receive notifications. To opt out, please contact 303.299.3223 or [email protected].

Survivors can check the status of results at trackit.colorado.gov.