The Victims' VOICES Act clarifies that when courts order defendants to pay restitution to crime victims, that restitution must also cover necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by people who have legally assumed the victim's rights, such as family members or guardians. These covered expenses include lost income, childcare, and transportation costs related to participating in criminal investigations or court proceedings, as well as costs for transporting victims to medical appointments, mental health services, therapy, and rehabilitation. The bill effectively expands the scope of restitution to recognize the financial burden that crime victims and their representatives bear while seeking justice and receiving care. This legislation affects victims of crimes, their families or guardians, and defendants who will be ordered to cover these broader categories of victim-related expenses in federal criminal cases. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the bill text.
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