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Victim Rights

Victim Advocate: Glenn Dugas, Telephone: 216.527.9208, Fax: 216.475.3087, Email: ghmc.victimadvocate@gmail.com

If you are the victim of a crime, you have the following rights under the Constitution of the State of Ohio:

  1. The right to be treated with fairness and respect for your safety, dignity and privacy;

  2. The right, upon request, to reasonable and timely notice of all public proceedings involving the criminal offense against you and to be present at all such proceedings;

  3. The right to be heard in any public proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, disposition, or parole, or in any public proceeding in which a right to which you are entitled is implicated;

  4. The right to reasonable protection from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused;

  5. The right upon request, to reasonable notice of any release or escape of the accused;

  6. The right, except as authorized by Section 10, of Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution, to refuse an interview, deposition, or other discovery request made by the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused;

  7. The right to full and timely restitution from the person who committed the criminal offense against you;

  8. The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay and a prompt conclusion of the case;

  9. The right, upon request, to confer with the attorney for the government; and

  10. The right to be informed, in writing, of all rights enumerated herein.

  11. The right to assert the rights enumerated herein and any other rights afforded to victims by law and to petition the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio if the relief you may seek is denied.

    You have the following rights under the Ohio Revised Code:

  12. §2930.06-Upon your request, the right to notice from the Court of the date, time, and place of any scheduled criminal proceeding in this case and notice of any changes in those proceedings or in the schedule.

  13. §2930.09-You have the right to be accompanied by an individual to provide support at all court proceedings.The Court provides a victim advocate for you.

  14. §§2930.13 and 2930.14-The right to make a statement and have the Court consider your statement regarding the following matters:

    • An explanation of the nature and extent of any physical, psychological, or emotional harm suffered by the victim as a result of the crime against you;

    • An explanation of the extent of any property damage or other economic loss suffered by you as a result of the crime against you;

    • An opinion regarding the extent to which, if any, you need restitution for harm caused by the defendant a result of the crime against you and information about whether you have applied for or received any compensation for loss or damage caused by said crime.

    • Your recommendation as to an appropriate sanction or disposition for the defendant.

      Your statement may be made in writing and submitted to the Clerk of Court prior to the hearing or you may give your oral statement to Judge Deborah J. Nicastro at the time of the hearing, or both.If you submit a written statement to the Clerk of Court, please include the name of the Defendant and the Case Number set forth above.A copy of any written statement will be provided to the Defendant according to law.

    • You may also speak directly with a victim advocate or submit a Victim Impact Statement by delivering a copy to the Clerk’s Office, by mailing it to 5555 Turney Road, Garfield Heights, OH 44125, or by emailing it to ghmc.victimadvocate@gmail.com with any appropriate documentation.

  15. §2930.18- The right not to be discharged, disciplined, or otherwise retaliated against by your employer for participating at the prosecutor’s request, in preparation for a criminal proceeding or for attendance, pursuant to a subpoena, at a criminal proceeding if the attendance is reasonably necessary to protect your interests.

  16. §2929.12- You also have the right to request restitution for any economic loss such as property damage caused by the Defendant or for the value of any property which is the subject of the offense. In order to obtain restitution, you should appear at the hearing described above and bring written proof of the amount of damage or the value of the property.If you do not provide such written proof, no restitution will be ordered.