Victims' Rights

Under Section 595.212, MOPS is charged with assisting prosecuting attorneys in their mandate to provide victims’ services programs.The office's objective is to assist prosecuting attorneys in their efforts against criminal activity within the state. This office recognizes prosecutors handle criminal cases on a daily basis and are used to doing so, but you may be a victim of a crime and may not know what your rights are and what the court procedures are. The following information is intended to assist you in understanding the criminal justice process.  Under Missouri law, victims of crime are guaranteed certain notification rights and participation in the criminal justice system. Those rights are outlined in RSMo 595.209.  Click here to view a publication that may assist you in understanding the general rights of crime victims, notification rights, compensation, the court process, and court terminology. This booklet can help you to better understand the court process during these difficult times for crime victims and families of crime victims. 

The rights discussed in the aforementioned publication automatically apply to victims of violent crimes (which may include arson, assault, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, rape, robbery, sodomy or an attempt to commit one of these crimes).

Missouri law sets out the maximum punishment by grade and class. Chapter 558.011 of the Revised Statues of Missouri (RSMO) sets out the imprisonment for each grade of crime and Chapter 560 sets the fines.