What are the specific legal services that NCVLI expects to be provided and are these limited to criminal or do they include civil matters?
Crime victims have constitutional and statutory rights in the criminal justice system that are independent of the state or the defense, and they have interests that are unique from the general citizenry. This grant is designed to fund the direct legal representation of crime victims in the criminal justice system. Such representation will likely include a notice/entry of appearance in the criminal case, active participation in pretrial motion practice, active participation at trial when crime victim’s rights are implicated, and active participation in post-conviction proceedings, including sentencing and other release proceedings. “Active participation” would include oral and written argument regarding the crime victim’s rights in trial and appellate criminal courts. Within these limits, the chosen clinics and their individual clients will establish the limits of the representation to be undertaken in any particular case in accordance with applicable laws and the client’s wishes. Repre
