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Legal Statutes: Maryland

UPDATED October 2, 2012

Maryland Statutes


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Part I. Definitions; General Provisions

back to top§4-503. Notice of victim's rights to victim

Victim's rights notice

(a) A law enforcement officer who responds to a request for help under § 4-502 of this Part I of this subtitle shall give the victim a written notice that:

(1) includes the telephone number of a local domestic violence program that receives funding from the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention; and

(2) states that:

(i) the victim may request that a District Court commissioner file a criminal charging document against the alleged abuser;

(ii) if the commissioner declines to charge the alleged abuser, the victim may request that the State's Attorney file a criminal charging document against the alleged abuser;

(iii) the victim may file in the District Court or a circuit court or, when neither the office of the clerk of the circuit court nor the Office of the District Court Clerk is open, with a commissioner, a petition under this subtitle; and

(iv) the victim may obtain a copy of the incident report, as provided under § 4-503.1 of this Part I of this subtitle.

Immunity from liability

(b) A law enforcement officer may not be held liable in a civil action that arises from the officer's failure to provide the notice required under subsection (a) of this section.
Added by Acts 2001, c. 10, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 235, § 3, eff. Dec. 18, 2002; Acts 2011, c. 356, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011.