National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Is April 6-12, 2025

Since 1981, the Federal Department of Justice has designated one week in April as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) to raise awareness about how crime impacts individuals, families, and communities. The observance helps crime victims understand and access the resources and services available in their communities.

Communities nationwide use NCVRW to reaffirm their commitments to advocating for victims’ rights and expanding access to essential support systems. Michigan NCVRW events include a community resource fair in Calhoun County, a free Survivor/Victim 5K walk hosted by the Detroit Crime Victims Action Team at Belle Isle Park, and an awareness discussion at Henry Ford College in Dearborn.

This year’s theme is “kinship,” emphasizing the principle that “shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime.” The Federal Office for Victims of Crime provides an annual resource guide with more information about NCVRW community events and how to participate.

Understanding Victims’ Rights

Michigan’s Constitution, statutory laws, court rules, and administrative guidelines protect crime survivors in many ways. The rights they enshrine for Michigan crime survivors include:

• Right to be informed. After a survivor reports a crime, Michigan law enforcement must promptly inform them about their legal rights. Survivors are entitled to timely updates about the status of court proceedings and case developments.
• Right to participate in legal proceedings. Survivors have the right to be involved in criminal proceedings and be consulted before a plea bargain or trial. However, Michigan prosecutors ultimately decide whether to bring charges, which charges to file, and how to pursue the case. Survivors are entitled to give “impact statements” after a conviction or plea to explain how the crime affected their lives.
• Right to privacy. Michigan law protects survivors’ personal information, such as their address, place of employment, and medical records, from unnecessary public disclosure.
• Restitution and compensation. Victims may be eligible for financial support through Michigan’s Crime Victim Compensation program, separate from any restitution the court orders an offender to pay. Compensation may include payment for medical expenses, counseling, lost wages, funeral bills, and other costs.
• Offender status. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) must notify a victim of an incarcerated prisoner’s status in response to a written request.

Resources for Michigan Crime Victims

The Michigan Department of Corrections Division of Victim Services provides many helpful resources for crime survivors to connect with state programs, navigate the legal system, and access support. It operates the Michigan Victim Information Notification Everyday (MI-VINE) service, which provides notifications and assistance regarding an offender’s custodial status and court proceedings. Private legal organizations like the Michigan State Bar Foundation also provide useful links and information for survivors.

Legal Actions for Uncompensated Damages

Many crime survivors suffer damages beyond what restitution or compensation programs cover. They may be able to recover these damages in a civil lawsuit.

Survivors can file a lawsuit against the criminal party, even if they are not convicted. Although a criminal conviction must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the standard of proof to succeed in a civil suit is lower. However, recovering compensation from the perpetrator may be challenging. Perpetrators may have limited financial resources, and insurance policies often exclude criminal acts from coverage.

Other entities may also be legally responsible for a crime. An employer, school, or hospital may be legally liable for failing to provide a safe environment. Organizations that may also be legally responsible, as illustrated in the following examples.

• Former student-athletes filed a lawsuit against the University of Michigan after Matt Weiss, a former athletic department employee, was federally charged with criminal invasion of privacy and identity theft. Plaintiffs allege the university failed to take reasonable steps to protect them, failed to respond appropriately to allegations of abuse, and enabled Weiss’s criminal activities.  
• Victims of clergy abuse may be able to pursue charges against the Lansing Diocese after the Michigan Attorney General released a report revealing decades of abuse by dozens of clergy members.
• Class-action lawsuits are ongoing against Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and DMC Sinai Grace and Goldfish Swim School. Plaintiffs claim the organizations failed to protect them from sexual abuse and exploitation by Dr. Oumair Aejaz.

The time limits for pursuing civil lawsuits related to criminal activities vary widely. Sometimes, you may only have a few years to begin a case, so you shouldn’t wait to talk to an experienced attorney. They can help you understand your rights and potential options for recovering compensation.

Fighting for Michigan Crime Victims’ Rights

Sommers Schwartz encourages Michigan communities to participate in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and advocates for policies that protect and empower survivors. If you are a survivor of a crime, including sexual abuse or assault, talking to an experienced attorney can help you take the first steps toward recovery. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation today.