PEREZ v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SHANIQUE PEREZ, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 25-3930 (UNA)
)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Respondent. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the Court on Shanique Perez’s Petition to Enforce Rights under the
Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 28 U.S.C. § 3771(a) – (d)(1) (ECF No. 1, “Pet.”). Petitioner states
she “is a victim of multiple federal criminal offenses,” id. at 1, who “repeatedly sought
protection, access, and participation in federal matters directly affecting her safety and the safety
of her minor children,” id. She alleges that the U.S. Department of Justice “has failed to
acknowledge or protect [her] rights,” id., and she files this petition to “invoke[] her rights,” id. at
2, under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, see 18 U.S.C. § 3771.
The Court dismisses the petition because courts have found that there is no private right
of action under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act. See In re Wild, 994 F.3d 1244, 1257 (11th Cir.
2021) (en banc) (hold[ing] that 18 U.S.C. § 3771(d) “does not create a private right of action by
which a victim can initiate a freestanding lawsuit, wholly unconnected to any preexisting
criminal prosecution and untethered to any proceeding that came before it”); Munsif v. Barr, 797
F. App’x 658, 660 (2d Cir. 2020) (“Although the Crime Victims’ Rights Act . . . requires the
Government to make reasonable efforts to notify crime victims of proceedings and of their right
to restitution, it does not authorize a private right of action for damages against the Government
Case 1:25-cv-03930-UNA Document 5 Filed 12/05/25 Page 1 of 2

2
for failing to meet its obligations under the act.”) (citation omitted); Bonds v. Virginia, No. 7:21-
cv-00363, 2021 WL 2827301, at *3 (W.D. Va. July 7, 2021) (“[A]lthough the CVRA provides a
mechanism for a crime victim to assert his rights . . . , it does not authorize any cause of action
for damages.”), aff’d, No. 21-7146, 2021 WL 6067259 (4th Cir. Dec. 20, 2021); Stephens v.
United Parcel Serv., Inc., No. 3:23-cv-06081-JSC, 2024 WL 1974548, at *4 (N.D. Cal. May 3,
2024) (dismissing claims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, because it does
not “provide a private right of action”).
An Order is issued separately.
DATE: December 5, 2025 ANA C. REYES
United States District Judge
Case 1:25-cv-03930-UNA Document 5 Filed 12/05/25 Page 2 of 2