When You Are The Victim
Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 11-1002 — the guidelines for treating crime victims, their representatives, and witnesses
Guidelines, worded as should. The appropriate criminal justice unit informs a victim, a victim's representative or a witness of these guidelines. The section words them as what should happen. Among them:
- To be treated with dignity, respect, courtesy and sensitivity.
- To be notified in advance of the dates and times of trial court proceedings and, on written request, of post sentencing proceedings, and told when a proceeding they were subpoenaed to will not proceed as scheduled.
- To be told of the protection available and, on request, protected from harm or threats arising from cooperating, to the extent reasonable and practicable.
- To have a waiting area separate from the suspect and the suspect's family and friends, to the extent practicable.
- To be told of financial assistance, criminal injuries compensation and other services.
- Employer intercession services, on request, to minimize lost pay or benefits.
- To have stolen or other property promptly returned, on written request, when the prosecution's evidentiary needs can be met otherwise.
At sentencing. On the State's Attorney's request and in the court's discretion, a victim should be allowed to address the court or jury, or have a victim impact statement read, at sentencing before the sentence is imposed, or at any hearing to consider altering it.
Several of these rights apply only on request, or only to the offenses the section names. How they apply in a particular case is a question for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 11-1002 — Guidelines for treatment of crime victims, victim’s representatives, and witnesses
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.