“The Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights” known as “Marsy’s Law” will be a proposed constitutional amendment on the statewide Illinois ballot on November 4.

“Marsy’s Law” focuses on three topics: being made aware of hearings, having a voice be heard and being notified when an offender is free.

Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins is the director of Marsy’s Law for Illinois and says there are plenty of areas where this amendment will be an asset to the state.

“All material evidence, of course, is available, but things like the rape victim’s diary that was a very prominent case where the diary contained nothing about the crime in it. But it did have her past in it and they were subpoenaing it to besmirch her past. They were just doing it to harass her. So under this new provision, that victim could object to those kind of irrelevant private records being admitted.” Bishop-Jenkins said.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan is anticipating questions from the public regarding the need of this amendment. She says this will amendment will give enforcement muscle to existing language in the Constitution.

“There is an opportunity for that victim to actually go to court and to say, ‘I want to be able to make my victim impact statement’. They can now actually bring a case in court. They didn’t have standing previously, they didn’t have the ability to appeal a decision made by a court. And now they will affirmatively have that ability if this passes and is put into our Constitution.” Madigan stated.

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