An act relating to the Victims Assistance Program

This bill establishes a formal Victims Assistance and Victim Advocate Program within Vermont's Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs to provide support services to victims of crime. The program requires victim advocates to offer information about legal rights, timely notifications of court proceedings, and practical assistance including counseling, financial guidance, restitution help, protection services, property recovery, and transportation to court. State's Attorneys are authorized to hire victim advocates who will deliver these services according to established job descriptions, while victims retain the right to decline any assistance. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, creating a structured framework for victim support throughout the criminal justice process.