NCJ Number
182656
Date Published
1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This document presents the text of a constitutional amendment proposed by United States Senator Dianne Feinstein to provide crime victims with certain fundamental rights, including the right to be informed, the right to be present at trial proceedings and parole hearings, and the right to restitution from a convicted offender.
Abstract
The explanatory text notes that the Constitution grants every accused person basic rights. These rights include the right to a speedy trial, the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and due process under the law, among others. However, the Constitution guarantees no rights to crime victims. The criminal justice system often handles victims and their families as though they are inconveniences. Protecting the rights of victims will not weaken the rights of the accused; instead, it will simply restore some fairness and balance to a system slanted against those who have nowhere else to turn for justice. A constitutional amendment is needed as long as the Constitution also protects the rights of the accused and the rights of convicted offenders. Case examples of injustices and guidelines on amending the Constitutions and what citizens can do to promote the enactment of an amendment