    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [June 27, 1996]
    [Pages 987-988]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Crime Victims' Rights
    June 27, 1996

    Memorandum for the Attorney General

    Subject: Renewing Our Commitment to Crime Victims

        We have made tremendous progress over the last 3 years in reducing
    crime and making America safer. Nonetheless, crime continues to affect
    the lives of millions of Americans, greatly diminishing their sense of
    safety and security.
        For too long, the rights and needs of crime victims and witnesses
    have been overlooked in the criminal justice system. Through the Violent
    Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Antiterrorism and
    Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, we have begun to address this
    problem. But those important measures are not enough.
        As important as the protections those laws provide are, they do
    not--and cannot--give victims equal status with the accused. That's the
    next step we need to take.
        I strongly believe that victims should be central participants in
    the criminal justice system, and that it will take a constitutional
    amendment to give the rights of victims the same status as the rights of
    the accused. In the interim, I want my Administration to do everything
    possible to ensure that victims' rights are respected and that victims'
    participation in the criminal justice process is encouraged and
    facilitated. Our Federal investigators and prosecutors should not simply
    comply with the letter of the law, they should also fulfill the spirit
    of the law.
        That is why I am directing you to take a number of important steps
    that will improve the treatment of victims in the Federal, State,
    military, and juvenile criminal justice systems.

    [[Page 988]]

        First, I am directing you to undertake a system-wide review and to
    take all necessary steps to provide for full victim participation in
    Federal criminal proceedings. I want you to hold the Federal system to a
    higher standard of victims' rights than ever before. In particular, I
    want you to adopt a nationwide automated victim information and
    notification system so that we can better inform and protect crime
    victims.
        Second, I would like you to work with other Federal agencies whose
    missions involve them with crime victims in order to ensure that a
    common and comprehensive baseline of participation for victims can be
    achieved.
        Third, I want you to review existing Federal statutes to see what
    further changes ought to be made. For example, I would like you to
    consider legislation that would prohibit employers from dismissing or
    disciplining employees who are victims of crime and whose participation
    as victims in criminal proceedings requires them to take time away from
    their employment.
        Finally, I want you to work with State officials--governors,
    attorneys general, legislators, district attorneys, and judges--and
    victims' rights advocates to identify the needs, challenges, best
    practices, and resources necessary to help achieve a uniform national
    baseline of protections for victims. The Department of Justice should
    provide technical assistance to State and local law enforcement, as well
    as other Federal agencies, and serve as a national clearinghouse for
    information about the most effective approaches to realizing fully the
    rights of victims of violent crime.
        To achieve these objectives, I expect you to identify funding needs
    where and as appropriate. Please report to me in writing as soon as
    possible on the specific steps you will take to achieve these goals.

                                                          William J. Clinton