The Marsy’s Law NC team was invited to participate in a Charlotte area Domestic Violence Advocacy Council event to educate the community about the important victims’ rights legislation, Marsy’s Law, being considered in the General Assembly. The legislation, House Bill 551, will give crime victims and their families co-equal rights in the state constitution already given to the accused and convicted.

Former Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby, part of the MLNC team, spoke at a lunch event as part of an ongoing effort by the campaign to help inform the public about this important policy initiative. Charlotte has seen record-breaking violent crime in 2017 – with more than 70 murders so far this year. The city is on pace to be at a 25 year high for violent crime, and many of the crimes are being classified as domestic in nature.

The Marsy’s Law for North Carolina campaign continues to raise awareness about the need to strengthen rights for victims, including those who have suffered from domestic violence. Through community events like this, MLNC aims to educate North Carolina voters about the need for all crime victims to have equal rights like notification of custody status of the accused and victims being heard during the criminal process.