In 1992, Colorado passed a constitutional amendment that provides crime victims with certain rights. The principal of the Amendment is to ensure that the justice system provide victims with at least the same rights afforded to criminals. Victims of crime, through no fault of their own, suffer physical, emotional and financial loss. Their lives are irrevocably changed, as are the lives of their family and friends.

"Across the country, many citizens have lost faith in the criminal justice system. For years, victims have been treated as mere afterthoughts, expected to be there to testify when needed, but otherwise not informed, not consulted, and not made whole. Indeed, it seems that for many years the only right that a victim had was to be present at the scene of the crime." Richard Romley, County Attorney, The Prosecutor, 1997.

The Colorado State Constitution (Article II, Section 16a) states:
ANY PERSON WHO IS A VICTIM OF A CRIMINAL ACT OR SUCH PERSON’S DESIGNEE, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR SURVIVING IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS IF SUCH PERSON IS DECEASED, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD, WHEN RELEVANT, INFORMED AND PRESENT AT ALL CRITICAL STAGES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.