Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982

The Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 was signed into law on October 12, 1982. The Act aimed to provide additional protections and assistance to victims and witnesses in Federal cases. It found that crime victims were often ignored or used as tools in the criminal justice system, suffering physical, psychological, or financial hardship as a result. The Act declared the purposes of providing a model for State and local governments to follow. Key provisions included the requirement of victim impact statements in sentencing reports, protection from intimidation and harassment, and restitution orders.