Instructions: Searching the Database
The online database is organized by the timeline of a criminal case within
its jurisdiction – which is currently limited to New Mexico. Each
step on the timeline is called a stage. Within each stage there are subjects.
A subject is a topic that may occur during a stage. Within each subject there
are issues.
An example of this structure is the victim’s right to sit at the counsel
table during a trial in New Mexico. In this case, the jurisdiction is “New
Mexico”, the stage is ”trial”, the subject is “victim
right to be present” and the issue is “victim right to sit at counsel
table.” (If there is only one issue, it is the same as the subject.) This
structure allows you to narrow your search so you can look at really focused
issues. You will always select an issue by first selecting its stage and subject using menus.
NOTE: The database currently contains information ONLY for the state of New Mexico.
Additional jurisdictions will be added as time permits.
To search for crime victim law:
- Click the "Begin Research" button on the home page, or select "Search State Law" from the left-hand menu
- The jurisdiction is currently limited to New Mexico, which has been selected for you.
- Select the stage from the menu
- Select the subject from the menu
- Select the issue from the menu.
- After you have selected your issue, a Search Now button button will appear. Click "Search Now" to retreive your information.
Note: The page will refresh after each entry as the choices for the next entry are retrieved from the database. The screen may appear to
flicker when this happens - this is normal.
If the selected issue is still being researched, you will see a message to that effect. If research on the issue has been completed, the information
will be returned to you in two parts: 1) a summary of the law, and 2) the text of the actual law. The summary contains NCVLI’s analysis
of the issue, including citations to the statutes and cases that form the basis of that analysis. The text of the laws is not presented
in full but instead you are given only those parts of the law that are applicable.
To print a copy of the information, click the Download PDF button at the top of the page. If you don’t already have a PDF reader,
click on the Get Adobe Reader button to install the Adobe reader.
When finished, you may click on the Another Search button to retain some of the information from your original search or the
New Search button to clear all the fields and start over. Use these buttons rather than your browser’s back button.
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