Society also is moving to protect victims through legislation. Rhode Island now has a law that allows child victims to testify on closed circuit television. Such legislation shows an increased sensitivity to the often traumatic effects of the criminal justice system on the victim, and 10 other States now have similar victim-witness legislation. Rhode Island and some other States have also enacted victim-indemnity legislation that pays crime-related medical and other expenses. The State also has a victim's bill of rights that requires victims be notified of the trial date and permits them to address the court during plea bargaining and the parole board at time of parole hearing. This increasing concern with the rights of victims brings a long overdue balance into the criminal justice system. 55 footnotes.