New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 22 - JUDICIARY
Subtitle A - JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
Chapter I - Standards and Administrative Policies
Subchapter C - Rules Of The Chief Administrator Of The Courts
Part 129 - Fair Treatment Standards For Crime Victims
Section 129.2 - Definitions

(a) Criminal justice agency includes any agency or department of the State or any political subdivision thereof that performs a criminal justice function as defined in 9 NYCRR 6170.2(c) and a presentment agency as defined in subdivision 12 of section 301.2 of the Family Court Act.

(b) Criminal justice process shall mean the process by which a crime charged in an accusatory instrument or in a Family Court petition is processed by the Unified Court System from the initial appearance of the accused to disposition.

(c) Crime victim shall mean a natural person against whom an act defined as a misdemeanor or felony by the Penal Law or section 1192 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law has been committed or attempted, where such act is charged in an accusatory instrument as defined in section 1.20 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Law or is alleged in a petition filed in Family Court. Crime victim shall include the immediate family of a homicide victim or the immediate family or guardian of a minor who is a crime victim. Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a victim shall not include a defense witness or an individual reasonably believed to have been involved in the commission of the crime.

(d) Witness shall mean a natural person who has evidence or information concerning a crime and who provides such evidence or information to a criminal justice agency. Where the witness is a minor, witness shall include an immediate family member or guardian. Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a witness shall not include a defense witness or an individual reasonably believed to have been involved in the commission of the crime.

(e) Court shall mean any court in the Unified Court System that has contact with a crime victim or witness.