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