The general assembly hereby finds that an effective criminal justice system requires the protection and assistance of victims of crime and members of the immediate families of such victims in order to preserve the individual dignity of victims and to encourage greater public cooperation in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal defendants. The general assembly hereby intends to provide protection and assistance to victims and members of the immediate families of such victims by declaring and implementing the rights of such persons and by lessening the financial burden placed upon victims due to the commission of crimes. This article shall be liberally construed to accomplish such purposes.
Source: L. 81: Entire article added, p. 1135, § 5, effective July 1. L. 92: Entire section amended, p. 415, § 1, effective January 14, 1993.
Cross references: For constitutional provisions relating to the rights of crime victims, see § 16a of article II, Colo. Const.; for statutory provisions relating to the rights of victims of and witnesses to crimes, see part 3 of this article.