Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA)

The Crime Victims’ Rights Act ("CVRA"), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 3771, was passed in 2004 to protect victims of federal crimes or offenses. Under the CVRA, victims include any person or legal entity who is directly and proximately harmed by a crime. If that person dies, then that individual’s family member or another lawful representative is considered the crime victim; however, a person accused of a crime is not covered under the Act. Crime victims have ten specific rights under this Act, the most important being the right to be protected from the accused, the right to be notified of public proceedings related to the crime, and the right to be present and heard at the proceedings. Federal courts and law enforcement officials must make their best efforts to notify the crime victims of their rights and honor any rights invoked by a crime victim. A violation of any of these rights will not result in a new trial for the accused. Nonetheless, if the crime victim’s rights are denied, the victim may file a motion to reopen the plea or sentence of the accused. The U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for investigating the violations of the rights of crime victims and implementing safeguards to prevent and correct violations. 

For additional information, see: CRS Report on the Crime Victims’ Rights Act: A Summary and Legal Analysis of 18 U.S.C. § 3771, U. S. Courts, Crime Victims’ Rights Report, United States Sentencing Commission: 2025 CVRA Primer.

[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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