Utah Code 63M-7-904 v2. Duties of the commission — Report
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(1) The commission shall:
Terms Used In Utah Code 63M-7-904 v2
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Commission: means the Utah Victim Services Commission. See Utah Code 63M-7-901
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Victim Services Restricted Account: means the account created in Section 63M-7-219. See Utah Code 63M-7-901
(1)(a) advocate for the adoption, repeal, or modification of laws or proposed legislation in the interest of victims of crime;
(1)(b) make recommendations to the Legislature, the governor, and the Judicial Council on the following:
(1)(b)(i) enforcing existing rights of victims of crime;
(1)(b)(ii) enhancing rights of victims of crime;
(1)(b)(iii) the role of victims of crime in the criminal justice system;
(1)(b)(iv) victim restitution;
(1)(b)(v) educating and training criminal justice professionals on the rights of victims of crime; and
(1)(b)(vi) enhancing services to victims of crimes; and
(1)(c) provide training on the rights of victims of crime.
(2) The commission shall, in partnership with state agencies and organizations, including the Children’s Justice Center Program, the Utah Office for Victims of Crime, and the Division of Child and Family Services:
(2)(a) review and assess the duties and practices of the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice regarding services and criminal justice policies pertaining to victims;
(2)(b) encourage and facilitate the development and coordination of trauma-informed services for crime victims throughout the state;
(2)(c) encourage and foster public and private partnerships for the purpose of:
(2)(c)(i) assessing needs for crime victim services throughout the state;
(2)(c)(ii) developing crime victim services and resources throughout the state; and
(2)(c)(iii) coordinating crime victim services and resources throughout the state;
(2)(d) generate unity for ongoing efforts to reduce and eliminate the impact of crime on victims through a comprehensive and evidence-based prevention, treatment, and justice strategy;
(2)(e) recommend and support the creation, dissemination, and implementation of statewide policies and plans to address crimes, including domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol;
(2)(f) collect information on statewide funding for crime victim services and prevention efforts, including the sources, disbursement, and outcomes of statewide funding for crime victim services and prevention efforts;
(2)(g) consider recommendations from any subcommittee of the commission; and
(2)(h) make recommendations regarding:
(2)(h)(i) the duties and practices of the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to ensure that:
(2)(h)(i)(A) crime victims are a vital part of the criminal justice system of the state;
(2)(h)(i)(B) all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity; and
(2)(h)(i)(C) the rights of crime victims and witnesses are honored and protected by law in a manner no less vigorous than protections afforded to criminal defendants; and
(2)(h)(ii) statewide funding for crime victim services and prevention efforts.
(3) The commission may:
(3)(a) subject to court rules and the governor’s approval, advocate in an appellate court on behalf of a victim of crime;
(3)(b) recommend to the Legislature the services to be funded by the Victim Services Restricted Account;
(3)(c) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, regarding the process by which a victim, or a representative of a victim, may submit a complaint alleging a violation of the victim’s rights; and
(3)(d) review any action taken by a victim rights committee created in accordance with Section 63M-7-1002 .
(4) The commission shall report the commission’s recommendations annually to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the governor, the Judicial Council, the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, the Judiciary Interim Committee, and the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee.
(5) When taking an action or making a recommendation, the commission shall respect that a state agency is bound to follow state law and may have duties or responsibilities imposed by state law.