Marsy’s Law Honors National Crime Victims’ Rights Week While Supporters Hope for a Positive Decision from the Kentucky Supreme Court
Louisville, Ky. (April 8, 2019) – Marsy’s Law for Kentucky and its many supporters are hopeful that the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) will send a positive message to the Kentucky Supreme Court as it considers the fate of the constitutional amendment and whether to uphold the will of more than 800,000 Kentucky voters who supported it.
Marsy’s Law for Kentucky led a three-year effort to codify a victims’ bill of rights in the Kentucky constitution. The amendment was overwhelmingly supported by the Kentucky General Assembly, thousands of victims, advocates, members of law enforcement and others, along with a strong majority of voters in the 2018 election.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which runs April 7 through April 13, is a time to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services, highlight local programs, celebrate progress achieved, and honor victims and the professionals who serve them.
Marsy’s Law for Kentucky released the following statement ahead of NCVRW 2019:
“The theme of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is honoring our past and celebrating hope for our future. This message hits close to home in Kentucky, where we’ve spent the last three years working alongside so many dedicated and passionate individuals to ensure crime victims have the rights they deserve.
"In recognition of NCVRW, Marsy’s Law for Kentucky would like to thank the expansive list of victims’ advocacy groups, law enforcement officers, and elected officials, as well as the hundreds of thousands of Kentucky voters who supported ML4KY on Election Day 2018. They are the real heroes, who have given victims and their families hope for a future where they are treated fairly in our criminal justice system.
"We are hopeful that the court will respect the decision of the voters and stand firmly with Marsy’s Law. But, regardless of the outcome, we will continue to fight to pass this legislation and give crime victims the voice they deserve.”
Senator Whitney Westerfield, who sponsored the Marsy’s Law legislation added “As a proud supporter of Marsy’s Law for Kentucky, I am pleased to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 7-13. This is an important week for crime victims across the country, and specifically here in our Commonwealth. As we await the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Marsy’s Law, I want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians who have shown their support for crime victims. Whether via grassroots efforts, or by going to the polls last November, an overwhelming number of Kentuckians have advocated to give crime victims the voice they deserve, and this is an important week to celebrate that.”
Marsy’s Law is a constitutional amendment granting constitutional rights for crime victims, including the reasonable right, upon request, to timely notice of all proceedings; the right to be heard in any proceeding involving a release, plea, or sentencing; the right to be present at the trial on the same basis as the accused; and the right to have the safety of the victim and victim’s family considered in setting bail, among others. For more information on Marsy’s Law for Kentucky, please visit www.victimsrightsky.com.
About Marsy’s Law for Kentucky
Marsy’s Law for Kentucky is an advocate-driven effort to incorporate a victims’ bill of rights in the state constitution.Kentucky is in the minority of states without constitutional-level rights for victims of crime. Please visit www.victimsrightsky.com, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.