HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_014037.txt

The article discusses whether crime victims should have rights during criminal investigations, focusing on the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) and its applicability before criminal charges are filed. The authors argue that if victims do not have rights during investigations, many will never receive any protection or support from the legal system. They also address a recent memorandum by the Justice Department contending that the CVRA does not extend rights to crime victims until formal charges are filed. The article is published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, with authors Paul G. Cassell, Nathanael J. Mitchell, and Bradley J. Edwards.