Public Law 118 - 77 - Victims' Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act" or the "Victims' VOICES Act

[118th Congress Public Law 77]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 138 STAT. 1510]]

Public Law 118-77
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To amend section 3663A of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that 
  restitution includes necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by a 
person who has assumed the victim's rights. <<NOTE: July 30, 2024 -  [S. 
                                3706]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Victims' Voices 
Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act.>> 
SECTION <<NOTE: 18 USC 1 note.>>  1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Victims' Voices Outside and Inside 
the Courtroom Effectiveness Act'' or the ``Victims' VOICES Act''.
SEC. 2. RESTITUTION FOR EXPENSES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE ASSUMED THE 
                    VICTIM'S RIGHTS.

    Section 3663A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(4) Clarification.--In ordering restitution under this section, a 
court shall order the defendant to make restitution to a person who has 
assumed the victim's rights under paragraph (2) to reimburse that 
person's necessary and reasonable--
            ``(A) lost income, child care, transportation, and other 
        expenses incurred during and directly related to participation 
        in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance 
        at proceedings related to the offense;
            ``(B) lost income, transportation, and other expenses 
        incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim 
        for necessary medical and related professional services and 
        devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological 
        care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in 
        accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the 
        place of treatment; and
            ``(C) lost income, transportation, and other expenses 
        incurred that are directly related to transporting the victim

[[Page 138 STAT. 1510]]

        to receive necessary physical and occupational therapy and 
        rehabilitation.''.

    Approved July 30, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3706:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
            Feb. 29, considered and passed Senate.
            July 22, 23, considered and passed House.

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