{"data":{"id":"us/28-cfr-551.151","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"28 CFR 551.151","heading":"Definitions.","body":"(a) For purpose of this rule, victim is generally defined as someone who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional, or financial harm as the result of the commission of a crime. The term “victim” also includes the immediate family of a minor or a homicide victim.\n(b) For purpose of this rule, witness is defined as someone who has information or evidence concerning a crime, and provides information regarding this knowledge to a law enforcement agency. Where the witness is a minor, the term “witness” includes an appropriate family member. The term “witness” does not include defense witnesses or those individuals involved in the crime as a perpetrator or accomplice.\n(c) For purpose of this rule, serious crime is defined as a criminal offense that involves personal violence, attempted or threatened personal violence or significant property loss.\n(d) For purpose of this rule, the phrase release from a Bureau institution refers to an inmate's furlough, parole (including appearance before the Parole Commission), transfer to a State or local detention facility, transfer to a community corrections center, mandatory release, expiration of sentence, escape (including apprehension), death, and other such release-related information.","path":["Title 28—Judicial Administration","CHAPTER V—BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE","SUBCHAPTER C—INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT","PART 551—MISCELLANEOUS","Subpart M—Victim and/or Witness Notification"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-28.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:25:14Z","sha256":"e615493369433ce8c35c80499bc201ba03c5cea477ff25b5e1705729845f92ad","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/28-cfr-551.150","next":"us/28-cfr-551.152"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}