§ 16-3-1520 — Victim entitled to copy of initial incident report; assistance in applying for victim's compensation benefits; information on progress of case.

(A) A law enforcement agency must provide a victim, free of charge, a copy of the initial incident report of his case, and a document which: (1) describes the constitutional rights the State grants victims in criminal cases; (2) describes the responsibilities of victims in exercising these rights; (3) lists local victim assistance and social service providers; (4) provides information on eligibility and application for victim's compensation benefits; and (5) provides information about the rights of victims and witnesses who are harassed or threatened. (B) A law enforcement agency, within a reasonable time of initial contact, must assist each eligible victim in applying for victim's compensation benefits and other available financial, social service, and counseling assistance. (C) Law enforcement victim advocates, upon request, may intervene with, and seek special consideration from, creditors of a victim who is temporarily unable to continue payments as a result of an offense and with the victim's employer, landlord, school, and other parties as considered appropriate through the investigative process. (D) A law enforcement agency, upon request, must make a reasonable attempt to inform a victim of the status and progress of his case from initial incident through: (1) disposition in summary court; (2) the referral of a juvenile offender to the Department of Juvenile Justice; or (3) transmittal of a general sessions warrant to the prosecuting agency.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 418, SECTION 2; 1988 Act No. 405, SECTION 4; 1997 Act No. 141, SECTION 3.