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Florida Crime Victims' Bill of Rights
Victims of crime or their lawful representatives, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to the right to be informed, to be present, and to be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the accused.
Florida Constitutional Amendment, Article I
Sec. 16. Rights of accused and of victims
(a) In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall, upon
demand, be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation
against him, and shall be furnished a copy of the charges, and
shall have the right to have compulsory process for witnesses, to
confront at trial adverse witnesses, to be heard in person, by
counsel or both, and to have a speedy and public trial by
impartial jury in the county where the crime was committed. If
the county is not known, the indictment or information may charge
venue in two or more counties conjunctively and proof that the
crime was committed in that area shall be sufficient; but before
pleading the accused may elect in which of those counties he will
be tried. Venue for prosecution of crimes committed beyond the
boundaries of the state shall be fixed by law.
(b) Victims of crime or their lawful representatives, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to the right to be informed, to be present, and to be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the accused.
