24-4.1-101. Legislative declaration

24-4.1-101. Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby finds that an effective criminal justice system requires the protection and assistance of victims of crime and members of the immediate families of such victims in order to preserve the individual dignity of victims and to encourage greater public cooperation in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal defendants. The general assembly hereby intends to provide protection and assistance to victims and members of the immediate families of such victims by declaring and implementing the rights of such persons and by lessening the financial burden placed upon victims due to the commission of crimes. This article shall be liberally construed to accomplish such purposes.