The Florida Constitution guarantees that victims of crime, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to certain basic rights, including, but not limited to, the right to be informed, to be present, to be heard, when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the Constitutional Rights of the accused.
Although the Victim's Rights Act clearly charges law enforcement and the criminal justice system to provide information to both juvenile and adult victims, victims should be aware that they, too, have a responsibility to keep the system informed of their whereabouts and cooperate with the system that is protecting them.
This booklet (A Guide for Victims and Witnesses*) will try to answer some of the questions you may have as a witness and explain the general procedures to you. These procedures may seem complicated, but, without you and your cooperation, law enforcement could not apprehend nor the courts convict criminals.
Criminal cases simply cannot be prosecuted unless witnesses come forward to testify. If you think, as I do, that it is important to reduce crime, then you will realize that you must also help. You have become part of the system, and, unless you do your part, justice cannot be done.
Sheriff Kevin Beary
Orange County, Florida
* A Guide for Victims and Witnesses is available by calling 407-254-7248. |
