HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017603.txt

This document discusses whether crime victims have rights during criminal investigations using the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) as a focal point. The issue was brought to light when the Justice Department released a memorandum stating that the CVRA does not grant any rights to crime victims until formal charges are filed, which means many crime victims may never receive their due rights in the criminal justice process. The authors argue that crime victims should have rights during investigations to ensure they are treated fairly and can participate actively in the legal proceedings. The document references a law review article by Paul G. Cassell, Nathanael J. Mitchell, and Bradley J. Edwards on this topic.