§ 5288. Rights of victims in youthful offender proceedings

(a) The victim in a proceeding involving a youthful offender shall have the following rights:

(1) to be notified by the prosecutor in a timely manner when a court proceeding is scheduled to take place and when a court proceeding to which he or she has been notified will not take place as scheduled;

(2) to be present during all court proceedings subject to the provisions of Rule 615 of the Vermont Rules of Evidence and to express reasonably his or her views concerning the offense and the youth;

(3) to request notification by the agency having custody of the youth before the youth is released from a residential facility;

(4) to be notified by the prosecutor as to the final disposition of the case;

(5) to be notified by the prosecutor of the victim's rights under this section.

(b) In accordance with court rules, at a hearing on a motion for youthful offender treatment, the court shall ask if the victim is present and, if so, whether the victim would like to be heard regarding disposition. In ordering disposition, the court shall consider any views offered at the hearing by the victim. If the victim is not present, the court shall ask whether the victim has expressed, either orally or in writing, views regarding disposition and shall take those views into consideration in ordering disposition.

(c) No youthful offender proceeding shall be delayed or voided by reason of the failure to give the victim the required notice or the failure of the victim to appear.

(d) As used in this section, "victim" shall have the same meaning as in 13 V.S.A. § 5301(4). (Added 2017, No. 72, § 5, eff. July 1, 2018.)