643. Fair treatment standards for crime victims; agencies generally. 1. As used in this section, "crime victim-related agency" means any agency of state government which provides services to or deals directly with crime victims, including (a) the office of children and family services, the office for the aging, the division of veterans affairs, the office of probation and correctional alternatives, the department of corrections and community supervision, the office of victim services, the department of motor vehicles, the office of vocational rehabilitation, the workers' compensation board, the department of health, the division of criminal justice services, the office of mental health, every transportation authority and the division of state police, and (b) any other agency so designated by the governor within ninety days of the effective date of this section.
2. Each crime victim-related agency shall review its practices, procedures, services, regulations and laws to determine the adequacy and appropriateness of its services with respect to crime victims, including victims with special needs, particularly the elderly, disabled or victims of child abuse, domestic violence or sex-related offenses. Such review shall include reasonable opportunity for public comment and consultation with crime victims or their representatives, and may include public hearings.
3. After the review, and not later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section, each crime victim-related agency shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature, setting forth the findings of the review including a description of the services provided by the agency and recommendations for changes in its practices, procedures, services, regulations and laws to improve its services to crime victims and to establish and implement fair treatment standards for crime victims.
4. Subject to the direction of the governor, and to the extent practicable, each crime victim-related agency shall expeditiously implement the recommendations of its report.
Last modified: February 3, 2019