You Are the Victim of a Crime. You Have Rights, and You Can Have Your Own Attorney.

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If you are the victim of a crime in Utah, there is something most people never learn: the prosecutor does not represent you. The prosecutor represents the state. Your interests usually overlap with the state's interests, but not always, and when they diverge, nobody in the courtroom speaks for you unless you bring your own attorney. You are allowed to do exactly that.

The Rights You Already Have

The Utah Constitution and Utah statutes give crime victims enforceable rights: to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, to be present at important hearings, to be heard at sentencing and other critical stages, and to be kept informed as the case moves. These are real legal rights, not courtesies. But rights only matter when someone asserts them, and prosecutors managing heavy caseloads do not always have the time, or the obligation, to fight for yours.

Where Your Own Attorney Changes Things

A victim rights attorney speaks for you, not the state. That matters most in a few situations. When the defense subpoenas your medical, counseling, or phone records, your attorney can move to protect your privacy. When a plea deal is forming, your attorney makes sure your voice reaches the prosecutor and the judge before the deal is done, not after. At sentencing, your attorney prepares and presents your statement and pushes for restitution that actually reflects what the crime cost you. And when you feel pressure, from anyone, about whether and how to participate, your attorney advises you with only your interests in mind.

Who This Helps Most

Victims of violent crimes and sexual offenses, where privacy, safety, and restitution are most at stake. Families navigating a case involving a child. Victims worried about testifying. People dealing with no-contact issues while the case is pending. And anyone who feels like the case is happening around them instead of with them.

Experience on Every Side of the Courtroom

Jim has served as a victim rights attorney in serious felony cases, has prosecuted nothing and hidden nothing, and has spent years on the defense side, which means he knows exactly what the defense will try and how to protect you from it. If you are the victim of a crime and the process is moving without you, call. Consultations are free and confidential.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact an attorney to discuss your specific situation.