Frequently Asked Questions

Marsy’s Law seeks to provide an equal voice for crime victims through meaningful and enforceable constitutional rights. Some examples of the types of rights to which we believe all victims are entitled are:

• To be treated with dignity and respect throughout criminal justice proceedings
• To be notified of his, her or their rights as a victim of crime
• To be notified of specific public proceedings throughout the criminal justice process and to be present and heard during those proceedings

Victims’ rights will not trump defendants’ constitutional rights. Victims’ constitutional rights create balance with defendants’ constitutional rights. Our government is founded on a system of checks and balances. The courts have the ability to balance rights if a conflict arises between a victim’s right and a defendant’s right.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of national laws have been passed dealing with criminal activity. Our constitutional amendment is unique as it is only effort that, once successful at the state level or ultimately successful at the national level, creates true equal rights for victims of crime in the criminal justice process. Currently, those accused of crimes and those convicted of crimes see their rights coming from the Constitution, whereas victims do not. Hence victims too often are the second-class citizens in the court and in the criminal justice process. We have seen over and over again that simply having statutory rights continues to leave too many victims to be revictimized by the criminal justice process.

More than 30 states have constitutional victims’ rights and their criminal courts have not been derailed. Speaking to a victim before finalizing a deal or a bail hearing is just common sense. The victim may have information that may change the court’s decision. Court hearings are normally scheduled days, weeks, and months in advance. This is sufficient time to contact victims.

Marsy’s Law gives the victim a voice, not a veto. The prosecutor’s role in a criminal case is unchanged by Marsy’s Law.

The right to be heard should not be confused with the right to be believed. People have no more opportunity to falsely claim victimhood under Marsy’s Law than they do under current laws. The court remains free to determine that an individual is not a victim, stopping that person from invoking any rights under Marsy’s Law – and there is absolutely no data to show increasing victims’ rights increases the instance of false victim claims.

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