National Crime Victim Law Institute

National Crime Victim Law Institute fights for balanced, fair justice systems in which victims have robust legal rights that are consistently enforced. To achieve this goal, National Crime Victim Law Institute recognizes that enhancing fairness and justice for victims requires a process of social change, which is built on a balanced approach of three efforts: legal advocacy, training & education, and public policy; Building a system that supports victims’ rights requires the participation of crime victims in achieving the mission.

To achieve the goal of balance and fairness in the justice system, NCVLI actively promotes three goals: 1) victim-centered legal advocacy from knowledgeable attorneys who provide low or no cost services to victims; 2) victims’ rights education and training for attorneys, judges, law enforcement, law students, justice system professionals, and the public; and 3) public policy that guarantees substantive rights and procedural mechanisms to secure those rights.

NCVLI’s leadership includes two of the foremost experts on victims’ rights in the country and its staff includes a specialized team of attorneys that provides training and technical assistance to attorneys and advocates nationwide and files amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in state and federal cases touching on victims’ right issues. NCVLI holds the only national conference focused entirely on victims’ rights, and it maintains NAVRA (a national network of victims’ rights attorneys and advocates committed to rights advancement).

In the time since NVLI’s founding, what was a novel concept of enforceable rights has begun to take root in the federal system, a handful of states, and the military. While awareness of the existence and enforcement of victims’ rights is increasing, in too many jurisdictions crime victims are still not treated with the fairness, dignity, and respect they deserve. As victims’ rights laws vary widely by jurisdiction, replication of model legislation and securing legal advocacy on the federal, state, and local level continues to be necessary.