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For crime victims

Crime victim rights

​Minnesota provides crime victims with important rights as their case moves through the criminal justice system. These rights are detailed in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 611A  and elsewhere under Minnesota statutes.

Your rights

History crime victim rights in Minnesota

The crime victims’ movement in Minnesota dates to the early 1970s, when the first rape crisis center and domestic violence shelter opened their doors. The 1970s also saw the establishment of the state’s victim compensation program and the beginning of a wave of victim/witness programs operating out of county attorneys’ offices.

The Minnesota Crime Victim Bill of Rights (Chapter 611A), enacted in 1983, is the state’s foremost crime victim rights statute. It laid the foundation for fundamental crime victim rights, including notification and participation in the criminal justice process. Since then, many additional laws have been enacted, strengthening crime victim rights and services to ensure that the needs of victims are being met and that their voices are heard in criminal prosecution process. 

Learn about landmarks in Minnesota crime victim rights