The bill H.331, introduced by Representative Rachelson of Burlington, aims to enhance the rights of victims in the criminal justice process by allowing them to provide comments during hearings related to a defendant's appeal or postconviction remedies. The proposed amendments to 13 V.S.A. 5315 include a requirement for the prosecutor's office to inform victims of listed crimes about the appeal or postconviction proceedings, including the significance of these actions and details about any hearings.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that during such hearings, the court must inquire if the victim is present and wishes to be heard. If the victim is not present, the court is required to consider any views expressed by the victim, whether orally or in writing. The bill also updates the terminology by replacing "post-conviction" with "postconviction" and specifies that it will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 13-5315