2019 NLADA Annual Conference-Innovative Justice

Understanding the history, scope, and future of victim rights law is of critical relevance to anyone working in criminal justice or with crime victims. This presentation aims to educate practitioners on the history, purpose, and challenges of victim rights enforcement, using the Jeffrey Epstein case as our guide. By examining the Epstein case from 2004 through today, we can better understand the development of victim rights from infancy through maturity. In this presentation, we will first cover the historical framework of victim rights law and the movement towards increased victim participation in criminal proceedings. Second, we will discuss both the benefits and problems that arise from these laws, as well as practical methods for ensuring that both a victim’s and a defendant’s rights can simultaneously be fairly and robustly enforced.