OP-ED: Give crime victims rights too. Vote yes on Marsy's Law in November

Did you know that, in addition to choices for federal, state and local representatives, your November general election ballot will feature a critical yes or no question that will impact thousands of Kentucky crime victims?

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Courier Journal
Opinion: Give crime victims rights too. Vote yes on Marsy's Law in November
October 7th, 2020 

Did you know that, in addition to choices for federal, state and local representatives, your November general election ballot will feature a critical yes or no question that will impact thousands of Kentucky crime victims?

This year voters will have an opportunity to vote YES on Constitutional Amendment 1 — Marsy’s Law for Kentucky — which would finally provide victims of crime the equal rights they deserve.

This vital amendment would add commonsense, straightforward protections for crime victims to our state Constitution — like the right to be present at court proceedings and the right to have the victim’s safety considered when setting bail. Currently, accused and convicted individuals have numerous rights in the Kentucky Constitution, but crime victims have none. Marsy’s Law will correct this troubling imbalance of justice. (It’s important to note that Marsy’s Law will not infringe upon any rights of accused/convicted individuals nor affect their due process rights; those will all remain the same.)

I have served as Marsy’s Law for Kentucky’s director of outreach for the past year; however, my journey as a crime victims’ advocate began more than 15 years ago, following the brutal rape and murder of my cousin, Lindsey.

As I work daily with survivors and victim advocacy groups across the commonwealth, I hear one common, heartfelt refrain: “We just want a voice.” After suffering so much loss and pain, these courageous individuals are often left to feel retraumatized as they attempt to navigate the cold, complex world of the criminal justice system — without inclusion or respect.