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Community Justice Center FresnoCommunity Justice Center

Victim rights · voice · options

You Have Rights. You Have a Voice. You Have Choices.

If you have been harmed by crime, you deserve clear information about your rights and about restorative options that may be available. CJC can explain, answer questions, and help you understand what — if anything — you want to explore next.

01

Rights

Understand what California protects.

Start with plain-language information about rights, notice, safety, and available resources.

02

Voice

Name what matters to you.

Questions, concerns, boundaries, and the choice to pause all matter.

03

Options

Explore without deciding today.

Restorative justice can be one option. It is never the only one.

Two ways people arrive

Start With Why You Are Here.

Some people arrive because an agency or advocate referred them. Others simply want reliable information about rights, choices, or restorative justice before deciding whether to contact anyone.

I was referred to CJC

A Referral Is an Opportunity to Learn.

California law provides crime victims and survivors a right to be told about community-based restorative justice options that may be available. In Fresno County, CJC may receive a referral so you can learn what an option could involve and decide whether you want to explore it.

Information, not obligation

A referral gives you information and a chance to ask questions. It does not mean you agreed to participate, meet anyone, forgive, reconcile, or take part in a restorative process.

Continue your referral

I want to understand my rights or options

Information Can Come Before Contact.

California crime victims have rights that reach beyond restorative justice, including rights related to dignity, safety, information, participation, restitution, and available services. You can review the basics first and decide what, if anything, you want to do next.

Understand your rights and options

Your rights

Your Rights Extend Beyond Restorative Justice.

California law recognizes a broader set of rights for crime victims. The summaries here are general orientation, not legal advice or an individualized legal determination.

Dignity, fairness & privacy

Crime victims have rights to be treated with fairness and respect for privacy and dignity.

Safety & protection

California law recognizes victim safety as an important part of the justice process.

Information & notice

Victims may have rights to information and notice about proceedings, services, and available options.

Being heard

Victims may have opportunities to be heard at appropriate stages of the justice process.

Restitution

California law includes restitution-related rights for crime victims.

Services & resources

Victims may be entitled to information about assistance, services, and other resources available to them.

AB 60 adds another right

Information About Restorative Justice Options.

AB 60 specifically addresses information about available community-based restorative justice programs or processes. Being informed about an option does not require you to use it.

Official California sources

For complete legal language and current California guidance, use the official California Department of Justice resources.

Victim rights / Marsy’s LawAB 60 / restorative justice information

Your voice

What Happened to You Matters. What You Want Next Matters Too.

A person harmed may have questions, concerns, needs, boundaries, or things they want understood. A restorative option should never erase that voice or turn participation into an expectation.

You can choose to

Ask questions

Learn more before deciding

Name what matters to you

Set boundaries

Take a pause

Seek another resource

Explore restorative justice

Your no matters too

You Can Decide Not to Take Part.

Learning about an option, receiving a referral, or asking CJC a question does not commit you to a restorative process. Another resource — or no restorative process at all — may be the right next step.

Restorative options

Restorative Justice Is One Option, Not an Obligation.

AB 60 addresses information about available community-based restorative justice programs and processes. Being told about an option is not the same as agreeing to use it. Where restorative work is available, it may create room for voice, questions, understanding impact, accountability, repair, or another meaningful next step.

Voice

Name impact, questions, needs, concerns, or boundaries in the way that fits you.

Questions

Learn what happened, what participation may involve, or what another person is prepared to address.

Repair

Explore what accountability, changed behavior, restitution, repair, or another next step could mean.

Restorative justice does not require direct contact, a face-to-face conversation, forgiveness, reconciliation, or an agreement.

Understand restorative justice

CJC’s role

CJC Can Help You Understand What Comes Next.

Explain

Understand restorative options and what participation may involve, in plain language.

Listen

Ask questions about what matters to you, what you need, and what you want to understand.

Prepare

If a restorative process is appropriate and chosen, individual preparation comes first.

Connect

When another organization or resource is a better fit, CJC may help identify where to turn next.

Role clarity

CJC Is a Community Justice Organization, Not Every Kind of Service.

Law enforcementThe prosecutorYour attorneyAn emergency or crisis serviceA requirement to take part in restorative justice

Where to next

Choose the Starting Point That Fits.

I was referred to CJC

Continue Your Referral.

Learn what community-based restorative options may be available. The choice to participate stays yours.

Continue your referral

I want to understand restorative justice

Learn the Approach First.

Understand what restorative justice is, what it is not, and what participation may involve before deciding anything.

Understand restorative justice

I’m not sure where to begin

Start With What Is Happening.

Begin with the situation rather than the right label. You can explore what may fit before deciding whether to reach out.

Find the right starting point

Nothing on this page is sent to CJC. This page provides general information, not legal advice. CJC is not an emergency, crisis, or legal service.

Connect

Stay connected with CJC.

Follow CJC’s work, share what you’re seeing, or get occasional updates about trainings and community events.

Share your voice