Washington Coalition of Crime Victim Advocates

Strengthening crime victim rights and improving victim services

Child Victim Rights

Additional Rights Granted to Children

Plain Language (7.69A.030)
  • Child victims have the right to have any judicial proceeding or police investigation explained to them in language easily understood by the child.
Privacy (7.69A.030)
  • The name, photograph, or address of any living child victim of a crime shall not be released by any law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, or state agency to anyone other than another law enforcement agency, prosecutor, defense counsel, or governmental agency that provides services to child victims, without the permission of the child, the child's parents, or the child's guardian.
Recommendations to the Court (7.69A.030)
  • A victim advocate is allowed to provide recommendations to the court as to the child's ability to understand the proceedings, and the court may be informed of the need for the presence of other supportive persons to be present while the child testifies.
Child Interviews (7.69A.030)
  • Law enforcement officials are allowed to enlist the assistance of other professional personnel trained to interview child victims.
Referrals to Social Service Agencies (7.69A.030)
  • Any child victim has the right to be provided with information and the appropriate referrals to social service agencies to assist the child and his/her family with the emotional impact of the crime.

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