Under North Carolina law, you have expansive and substantial rights as a victim of crime.
You have the right to:
- Be treated with fairness and respect for your privacy and dignity and be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process
- Be reasonably protected from the defendant
- Have your safety considered as a factor in fixing the amount of bail and release conditions for the defendant
- Prevent disclosure of confidential information to the defendant that could be used to locate or harass you
- Refuse an interview or deposition request unless under a court order
- Timely disposition of the case
- Provide information to any public officer conducting a presentence investigation
- Full and timely restitution
- Prompt return of legal property when no longer needed as evidence
- Be informed of all post-conviction proceedings and provide information to the parole authority
- Have all money and property collected from any person ordered to make restitution be first applied to amounts ordered as restitution to you
- Be specifically informed of your rights as a victim
You may request your right to:
- Confer with the prosecuting agency
- Reasonable notice of, and be present for, all public proceedings where the defendant and prosecutor are entitled to be present and all parole or other post-conviction release proceedings
- Be heard at any public proceeding involving release or sentencing
- Be informed of the conviction, sentence, place and time of incarceration, the scheduled release date of the defendant, and the release or escape from custody
- Be notified of the parole or other release of the offender
- Assert your rights and have the court rule promptly on your request