N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 6170.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 51, December 18, 2024

Section 6170.3 - Standards

The following standards for the treatment of victims and witnesses of crime shall apply to criminal justice agencies when they have contact with crime victims and witnesses:

(a) Such emergency medical services and other supportive social or psychological services as may exist in a community shall, when it becomes necessary as the result of a crime, be made available to crime victims as soon as possible after the commission of said crime, or when the need for them becomes apparent to any criminal justice agency dealing with the victim. The agency shall give all possible assistance to the victim in contacting the specific person or office which provides the service(s), or in otherwise obtaining such service(s).

(b) Each agency shall keep a list of programs in their jurisdiction which provide such services to crime victims, except that with reference to the State Police and other agencies with statewide jurisdiction, each State Police station or agency facility shall keep a list of programs in its particular area which provide such services to crime victims. The list shall include the location and telephone number of the program, the services provided by each program and the hours of operation. Criminal justice agencies shall disseminate necessary information and otherwise assist crime victims in obtaining information on the availability of appropriate public or private programs that provide counseling, treatment or support for crime victims, including but not limited to the following: rape crisis centers, victim/witness assistance programs, elderly victim services, victim assistance hotlines and domestic violence shelters.

(c) Each agency shall maintain an address and telephone number for the nearest office of the crime victims board and shall advise each eligible victim that compensation may be available through said board, and of the procedures to apply for compensation. The agency shall have available all application blanks required to initiate such a request for compensation to the board. This information on the possibility of compensation may be disseminated by means of a prominently displayed poster.[FN*]

(d) Each agency shall post, in a prominent place, such other posters as may be produced by the Crime Victims Board.

(e) An agency shall, if requested, inform the victim of other agencies that perform one or more criminal justice functions with respect to the case, and refer the victim to the appropriate agency or official who can provide an explanation of other aspects of the criminal justice process, if that be necessary.

(f) Any criminal justice agency having contact with a crime victim or witness shall treat such victim or witness with dignity and respect.

(g) All criminal justice agencies shall endeavor to see that these standards are implemented by using available resources and developing new resources where possible and necessary. They shall cooperate with each other and with appropriate victim/witness assistance programs to the maximum extent possible to further assure that these standards are implemented.

[FN*] See Executive Law, section 625-a.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 6170.3