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.
Source: Originally developed
by the Florida Attorney General
University Park Campus MARC 330
11200 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33199
