Critical Stages

  • An attack on judgment or conviction for which a court hearing is set;
  • Any bond reduction or modification hearing;*
  • Any hearing concerning a petition for expungement of a juvenile offender’s records;* and
  • Any petition by a sex offender to terminate sex offender registration;
  • Any subpoena for a victim’s mental health, medical, education or victim compensation records;*
  • Appellate review or appellate decision;
  • Arraignment hearing;
  • Disposition of the complaint or charges against the person accused;*
  • Filing of charges and the decision not to file charges;
  • Full Parole Board Hearing
  • Motions hearing;
  • Parole application hearing;
  • Parole revocation hearing;
  • Parole, release, or discharge from imprisonment of a person convicted of a crime;
  • Post-conviction DNA testing
  • Preliminary hearing;
  • Probation revocation hearing;
  • Request for release from community corrections prior to the expiration of the defendant’s sentence;
  • Request for release from probation supervision prior to the expiration of the defendant’s sentence;
  • Resentencing following a probation revocation hearing and request for early termination of probation
  • Sentence reconsideration;*
  • Sentencing hearing;*
  • The change of venue or transfer of probation supervision;
  • The execution of an offender in a capital case; 
  • The filing of a complaint, summons, or warrant by probation for failure to report or because the location of a person convicted of a crime is unknown;
  • Transfer to or placement of a person convicted of a crime in a non-secure facility;
  • Transfer, release, or escape of a person charged with or convicted of a crime from any state hospital;
  • Trial; and

* In addition to the right to be informed and present, the victim also has a right to be heard at the following hearings: 1) bond reduction or modification; 2) a subpoena for the victim’s records; 3) the court accepts of a negotiated plea agreement or a plea of nolo contendere; 4) sentencing; 5) modification of the sentence; 6) the defendant requests a modification of the no contact provision of the criminal protection order; and 7) a petition for expungement of juvenile records.

Victims who are unavailable to attend a hearing where he or she has the right to be heard may request that the court provide them an opportunity to be heard though telephone or other similar technology by making a request to the district attorney’s office.

When any person attempting defense-initiated victim outreach contacts any victim of any crime, the person shall immediately provide full and unambiguous disclosure of the person’s legal name and the fact that the person is acting as an agent for the person accused of the crime or for the defense team of such person.