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Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - Article 56.04. Victim Assistance Coordinator; Crime Victim Liaison

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Code of Criminal Procedure > Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - Article 56.04. Victim Assistance Coordinator; Crime Victim Liaison

Art. 56.04. VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR;  CRIME VICTIM 
LIAISON.  (a) The district attorney, criminal district attorney, 
or county attorney who prosecutes criminal cases shall designate a 
person to serve as victim assistance coordinator in that 
jurisdiction.
	(b)  The duty of the victim assistance coordinator is to 
ensure that a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a 
deceased victim is afforded the rights granted victims, guardians, 
and relatives by Article 56.02 of this code.  The victim assistance 
coordinator shall work closely with appropriate law enforcement 
agencies, prosecuting attorneys, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, 
and the judiciary in carrying out that duty.
	(c)  Each local law enforcement agency shall designate one 
person to serve as the agency's crime victim liaison. Each agency 
shall consult with the victim assistance coordinator in the office 
of the attorney representing the state to determine the most 
effective manner in which the crime victim liaison can perform the 
duties imposed on the crime victim liaison under this article.
	(d)  The duty of the crime victim liaison is to ensure that a 
victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim 
is afforded the rights granted victims, guardians, or close 
relatives of deceased victims by Subdivisions (4), (6), and (9) of 
Article 56.02(a) of this code.
	(e)  The victim assistance coordinator shall send a copy of a 
victim impact statement to the court sentencing the defendant.  If 
the court sentences the defendant to imprisonment in the Texas 
Department of Corrections, it shall attach the copy of the victim 
impact statement to the commitment papers.

Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.  
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 996, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 
1989;  Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 202, Sec. 4, 
eff. Sept. 1, 1991.

Last modified: August 10, 2007