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119-hr-5506119th Congress

Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act

Sponsored By: Representative Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

Introduced

Summary

Expands and enforces crime victims' rights. This bill would extend victims' rights as soon as a federal or D.C. offense is suspected or alleged and add new enforcement, reporting, and oversight tools to make those rights real.

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  • Victims: Gives victims the right to be informed and to confer about resolutions like plea deals, deferred prosecution, dismissals, and referrals. It would require a victims' rights card, an advice-of-attorney notice, and information on pro bono legal help. Prevailing victims could recover reasonable attorneys' fees under 28 U.S.C. 2412.
  • Courts and cases: Courts would have to confirm government compliance, order remedies for violations, provide protective orders, and quickly resolve victims' motions including writs of mandamus. Courts must ensure victims or their lawful representatives can have counsel and access to case records and filings.
  • Government oversight and reporting: The Department of Justice would create an Administrative Authority to investigate victims' complaints and allow appeals to the DOJ Inspector General. The Attorney General must issue rules and report to Congress annually or biannually with complaint counts, outcomes, disciplinary actions, and district-level information.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Earlier rights and better notice for victims

If enacted, crime victims’ rights would start when a crime is suspected, not just after charges. You would have a right to meet with prosecutors about plea deals or other ways a case could be resolved and get timely notice. You would get a rights card and information on how to find a lawyer, including pro bono help. Your lawyer could get filings and case records tied to your rights, and only you, your lawful representative, or the Government could assert these rights.

Faster court relief and fee recovery

If enacted, courts would have to take victims’ rights motions right away, and appeals would generally be decided within 72 hours. If a court finds a violation, it would have to order a fair remedy and could reopen a proceeding if that does not violate the defendant’s rights. If you win against the United States, you could recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses. You could also ask the court to review and possibly annul a deferred or nonprosecution agreement if you were denied the right to confer.

New DOJ office for victim complaints

If enacted, a new DOJ office would take complaints that government lawyers violated victims’ rights. It would log each complaint and issue a decision within 180 days and could fine or reimburse victims for costs if it finds a violation. You or the Government could appeal to the Inspector General within 10 business days; the IG would review within 30 days, and an order would stand if not reviewed in 45 days. DOJ staff would also get trauma‑informed training to improve how they treat victims.

New limits and short delays on victims' rights

If enacted, before charges are public, the Government could ask a court to delay some victims’ rights to protect safety or investigations. A judge could grant a delay only with clear and convincing evidence, for up to 90 days unless extended for good cause, and must give you the record when the delay ends. The bill would also limit when you can ask to reopen a guilty plea or sentence. You would need to meet strict timing and petition rules, and reopening would not be allowed if the defendant already pleaded to the highest charge or received the statutory maximum sentence.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

FL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/13/2026

  • Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2026

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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