7.3Separate Waiting Area for Crime Victims

The Crime Victim’s Rights Act (CVRA) requires “[t]he court [to] provide a waiting area for the victim separate from the defendant, defendant’s relatives, and defense witnesses if such an area is available and the use of the area is practical. If a separate waiting area is not available or practical, the court shall provide other safeguards to minimize the victim’s contact with [the] defendant, defendant’s relatives, and defense witnesses during court proceedings.” MCL 780.757 (felonies).

MCL 780.787 and MCL 780.817 contain substantially similar provisions for proceedings involving juvenile offenses and serious misdemeanors.¹