The need to guarantee basic rights for the victims of crime is finally being recognized by the courts and by elected officials. Some states have even enacted a crime victims’ “Bill of Rights,” but the laws affecting victims still vary widely throughout the country. This essential guide surveys the recent developments that help victims find assistance, maintain their dignity, receive compensation for injuries and losses, and increase the effectiveness of their participation in arrests, bail hearings, trials, sentencing, and probation or parole determinations. Special information is also provided for elderly victims and for victims of domestic violence and rape.     The Rights of Crime Victims includes state by state charts of victims’ compensation laws and domestic violence laws, plus the locations of victims’ compensation programs and alternative dispute resolution centers.