What is a Crime Victim Advocate?
As a formally educated professional who provides helpful information and critical emotional support, a crime victim advocate ensures a victim of a crime receives the resources needed to recover from the aftermath of a negative life-altering event. The specific...The Police Botched My Case. What Can I Do?
Learn about your rights as a victim. There are few things that make you feel more helpless than being a victim of a crime. Whether the crime was violent or non-violent, you may feel traumatized and violated. If you have reported the crime to the police, you may feel...Do Victims Have a Right to Information During the Criminal Justice Process?
A skilled lawyer can help you get access to information about your case It often seems like the deck is stacked in favor of defendants in the criminal justice system. If the police make an error, an entire case can be thrown out — and a person who committed a heinous...Do Crime Victims Have a Right to Privacy in California?
A loss of privacy can feel like an additional victimization after a crime Being the victim of a crime can be an incredibly traumatic experience. Even if the crime was nonviolent, such as identity theft, it can still feel like a massive violation — and make you feel...Understanding California’s Rape Shield Law for Victims of Sexual Assault
In some cases, your sexual history may be introduced at trial. If you are a victim of sexual assault, then you know firsthand how difficult it can be to achieve justice. According to statistics from the Rape and Incest National Network (RAINN), the vast majority of...What Rights Do California Crime Victims Have Post-Conviction?
You have a right to notice, to be heard, and to restitution, among other rights. If you have been a victim of crime in California, your most immediate concerns may be with the immediate future. Will the perpetrator be arrested? Will you have to testify at trial? Will...Who Qualifies as a Victim Under California’s Victims’ Rights Law?
Marsy’s Law defines who is considered a victim. In 2008, Californians approved Marsy’s Law, guaranteeing constitutional rights to crime victims and their families. Under the Crime Victims Bill of Rights, victims of crime were entitled to: Be treated with fairness and...How Will COVID-19 Affect Victims’ Rights in California Criminal Cases?
The coronavirus has changed how the criminal courts operate. The coronavirus has affected Californians in a range of ways. Since Governor Newsom issued a shelter-in-place order, non-essential businesses have largely closed — and others are allowing their employees to...Can a Defendant Cross Examine A Victim in a California Criminal Trial?
Defendants’ right to represent themselves does not extend to the right to abuse witnesses during cross-examination. Under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, defendants in criminal trials have a right to act as their own attorney (often referred to as...
Michael L. Fell can assist victims of all types of serious crimes.
Learn More