Proposed amendment would guarantee victim’s rights

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A proposed amendment will aim to bring equal rights to the offender and victim of a crime later this year.

Marsy’s Law could appear on Ohio’s Ballot this November after over a half of a million signatures were turned into the Ohio Secretary of State on June 22nd. The signatures must now be verified.

Field Director of the Marsy’s Law For All, Lanny Spaulding, explained current law offers but doesn’t guarantee victim rights.

“As it stands offenders in the State of Ohio are protected by the constitution, crime victims are not, they are protected by statute. The right to restitution, the right to restitution, the right to notification, the right to be heard, to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect and also to sit in on all parts of the process in court. They have that right by statute, which means it’s not always enforced.”

Spaulding cited a recent example where the current system failed.

“In Kirkersville Ohio there was a triple murder that happened a number of weeks ago. That individual, this is an example where the system failed, they were let out early, the victim was not notified and now three people are dead.”

Marsy’s Law is already in effect in five states and Spaulding hopes to extend that country-wide. For more information on Marsy’s Law For All visit their website at www.marsyslaw.us