Crime victims and their advocates have called for standards of fair treatment for both victims and witnesses to improve the bond between criminal justice agencies and citizens they serve. These standards have been partially or fully implemented in many jurisdictions throughout the United States and have proven to be effective in giving victims and witnesses a sense of participation in criminal case outcomes. Provisions of the model statute focus on the fair treatment of victims and witnesses and the creation of a criminal justice system that is fully responsive to legitimate interests and concerns of the people it serves. The model statute contains definitions, identifies information and events that should routinely be communicated to victims and witnesses, and covers fair treatment standards and methods of presenting victim concerns and interests to criminal justice decision-makers.