Press Releases

Washington DC – Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Burgess Owens (UT-4) introduced the bipartisan Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims' Rights Act to ensure victims of crime are treated with dignity, have the support they need while navigating criminal proceedings, and avoid further victimization.

The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims' Rights Act was spurred by Wild's lawsuit that asserted the rights of victims who fell prey to Jeffrey Epstein and were kept in the dark as federal prosecutors hashed out a secret and shockingly lenient plea deal. Wild fought in court for over 10 years before a Federal District Court finally declared that her rights, and the rights of other victims were violated under the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA). However, in April 2020, the Eleventh Circuit of Appeals rejected her lawsuit, in part because the federal government never filed charges against Epstein, so due to ambiguities in the law, the CVRA was never triggered.

This legislation would empower the Attorney General to implement the necessary reforms to ensure that all crime victims are afforded their rights under the CRVA. These reforms include the clarification that victims have the right to be informed by federal prosecutors of any plea or pretrial agreement that could impact their ability to secure justice and requiring the court to order a remedy if a victim’s rights have been violated, among other reforms. 

U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21) and Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined as original cosponsors.

The following organizations have endorsed this legislation: Courtney Wild (survivor-advocate), Brad Edwards, and Paul Cassell (Wild’s Lawyers); Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), Victims’ Rights Law Center (VRLC), National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI). 

“Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney's, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”

“The Courtney Wild case exposed glaring gaps in our justice system—a web of legal loopholes and procedural barriers that prevent victims from sharing their voices and downplays the horrors they’ve faced, particularly when powerful people are involved. Thanks to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz's tireless advocacy for this bipartisan effort, we can ensure that no victim is forced to navigate the justice system in silence again,” said Rep. Owens

“Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were kept in the dark as a sweetheart deal was hashed out, allowing a prolific sexual predator to go free with just a slap on the wrist. This bill ensures a more victim-centered process so that such a miscarriage of justice never happens again,” said Rep. Frankel.

“As the co-founder of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation. It is imperative that we make necessary reforms to the Crime Victims Rights Act to ensure that victims receive the support they deserve and have their voices heard in the justice system,” said Rep. Costa.

"The current CVRA leaves most victims without legal representation and without any real recourse or remedy for injustice. This amendment is crucial for the advancement of victim's rights in the United States," said Courtney Wild, survivor-advocate.    

“We are extremely grateful for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Congressman Burgess Owens’s (R-UT) leadership on the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims' Rights Act. This bill would ensure the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) provides equitable and meaningful rights to survivors of crime,” said Bridgette Stumpf, co-founder and executive director of Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). “Additionally, this bill would ensure consistency in how victims experience the criminal legal system and strengthen access to independent crime victims' counsel--creating an environment of accountability within the criminal process.” 

“The National Center for Victims of Crime proudly fought side by side with then-Senator Biden to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 30 years ago. It is now our privilege and honor to stand with two incredible Representatives, Rep. Schultz and Rep. Owens, as they take up the battle for victims through the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This crucial act expands VAWA and VOCA in protecting victims’ dignity, not only by ensuring that crime victims’ rights are enforced, but also by providing accountability and remedies when those rights are violated. We thank Rep. Schulz and Rep. Owens for their work on this crucial bill, and we commit to advocating for and serving victims across the nation. Only when victims’ rights are automatic and unquestioned will our victory be achieved,” said Renee Williams, Esq., executive director of the National Center for the Victims of Crime (NCVC).  

“The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act is an incredible step forward in protecting the rights of federal victims of crime.  NOVA commends Ms. Wild for courageously advocating for federal victims of crime to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity throughout the criminal justice process. We thank Ms. Wild and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) for championing this landmark bill,” said Claire Ponder Selib, Executive Director, National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA).

"Twenty years ago the CVRA was passed with the intention of making crime victims meaningful participants in criminal justice by ensuring that they have rights from the time of their victimization and that they have access to attorneys at no cost to help protect those rights. We are so grateful to Representative Wasserman Schultz for continuing to push to make these promises a reality," said Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute. 

Read the entire bill here. A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

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