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Politics & Government

Beaumaster: As a Victim, Know Your Rights

Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster fills you in on rights and programs you should know about.

Sixty-two million Americans have been victims of sexual abuse. Around 85-90 percent of women in treatment for chemical dependency issues have been victims of sexual assault. Every 10 seconds a report of child abuse is made. Sixty percent of people in treatment for chemical dependency issues have been victims of child abuse or neglect. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. It's an opportune time to highlight sexual assault, child abuse and other emerging crimes such as Internet fraud.

The theme encourages us to use the lessons of the past (such as the power of grassroots activism to change laws and policies) to thwart current and future crimes. We can insist on stronger laws, more effective enforcement, and stronger sentences for these crimes. We can ask the media to sound the alarm about these crimes, and we can better equip our community to protect themselves.

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Before 1988, victims did not have the right to give a victim impact statement. Thanks to victims who wanted their voices heard, including a local Rice County woman, all victims now have the right to give their statement at sentencing. Victims have the right to attend court proceedings and to collect restitution. They also have the right to know when an offender is released from jail or prison. Thanks to the Minnesota Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE), victims can receive this information and notification by registering with VINE—and it is anonymous. 

The Minnesota Department of Corrections has also started a new web-based notification system for victims, witnesses and others affected by crimes called Minnesota Choice.

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This new program will allow anyone affected by a crime to search offender information, request to be notified of an offender’s custody status, including release, transfer, escape, apprehension or death of an offender; access resource information regarding restitution, reparations and safety planning; request information about victim-initiated restorative justice opportunities, such as apology letters and victim offender dialogue options; and inquire about education and training.

The Rice County Attorney’s Office strives to assure victims’ rights are vindicated throughout the criminal justice process. Our victim/witness coordinator, Vanessa Eng, is the primary liaison between the criminal justice system and crime victims. She assures all victims know their rights.  She helps victims of crime apply for financial assistance to help them overcome the financial impact of a crime. Victims of violent crime may apply for financial assistance (reparations) from the state if they suffer economic loss because of the crime. Victims may also request the court to order the defendant to pay restitution if the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty. 

When signing Executive Order 12360, establishing the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, Ronald Reagan stated, “Our concern for crime victims rests on far more than simple recognition that it could happen to any of us. It’s also rooted in the realization that regardless of who is victimized or the extent to which any one of us may personally be threatened, all of us have an interest in seeing that justice is done not only to the criminal, but also for those who suffer the consequences of his crime.”

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