The Victim Advocate may, within available appropriations:

(1) Evaluate the delivery of services to victims by state agencies and those entities that provide services to victims, including the delivery of services to families of victims by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner;

(2) Coordinate and cooperate with other private and public agencies concerned with the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the constitutional rights of victims and enter into cooperative agreements with public or private agencies for the furtherance of the constitutional rights of victims;

(3) Review the procedures established by any state agency or other entity providing services to victims with respect to the constitutional rights of victims;

(4) Receive and review complaints of persons concerning the actions of any state or other entity providing services to victims and investigate those where it appears that a victim or family of a victim may be in need of assistance from the Victim Advocate;

(5) File a limited special appearance in any court proceeding for the purpose of advocating for any right guaranteed to a crime victim by the Constitution of the state or any right provided to a crime victim by any provision of the general statutes;

(6) Ensure a centralized location for victim services information;

(7) Recommend changes in state policies concerning victims, including changes in the system of providing victim services;

(8) Conduct programs of public education, undertake legislative advocacy, and make proposals for systemic reform;

(9) Monitor the provision of protective services to witnesses by the Chief State's Attorney pursuant to section 54-82t; and

(10) Take appropriate steps to advise the public of the services of the Office of the Victim Advocate, the purpose of the office and procedures to contact the office.

(P.A. 98-231, S. 2; P.A. 99-37, S. 1; 99-240, S. 8; P.A. 01-211, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 99-37 amended Subdiv. (1) to include evaluation of the delivery of services to families of victims by Office of Chief Medical Examiner; P.A. 99-240 added new Subdiv. (9) re authority to monitor the provision of protective services to witnesses by the Chief State's Attorney and redesignated former Subdiv. (9) as Subdiv. (10); P.A. 01-211 amended Subdiv. (5) to replace former Subparas. (A) to (F) re specific rights of victims for which the Victim Advocate may advocate with provision that the Victim Advocate may advocate for “any right guaranteed to a crime victim by the Constitution of the state or any right provided to a crime victim by any provision of the general statutes”.

Authority of Victim Advocate to file limited special appearance under Subdiv. (5) does not confer full party status to crime victims or grant victims the right to bring an appeal. 304 C. 330.