Appealing to voters from the perspective of a survivor of child sexual abuse, a new “Yes on Amendment 6” ad featuring Lauren Book is now running across Florida. The new ad is part of a major statewide broadcast, cable and digital advertising campaign asking voters to support Amendment 6, which would place clear, enforceable rights for crime victims in the state constitution. The campaign has been launched by Marsy’s Law for Florida, a group that has been advocating for rights for crime victims that are equal to those already provided to the accused and convicted.
Book, a state senator, is also the founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, a Florida-based nonprofit foundation that educates adults and children about sexual abuse prevention through in-school curriculum, awareness campaigns, speaking engagements and legislative advocacy.
“I am proud to support victims’ rights and that’s why I support Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I know how difficult and painful the court process can be,” said Book. “Victims of crime want the opportunity to be present and for their voices to be heard, without revictimization. They want their rights to be the same as the person who harmed them. Most of all, victims of crime want to be treated with dignity and respect. We must pass Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida to provide protection for generations to come.”
If passed by voters by a margin of 60 percent or greater in November, Amendment 6 will place a new, specific set of distinct rights for crime victims in the Florida Constitution. Some of these basic, commonsense rights include:
- The right to have standing in court
- The right to present at all proceedings involving the case
- The right to reasonable and timely notice of proceedings
- The right to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement or pardon
- The right to timely notice of any release, escape or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death
- The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
- The right to timely information about the outcome of the case
Together with Book and Lauren’s Kids, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, Justice Coalition, Peyton Tuthill Foundation, MADD, Victim Services Center of Central Florida, Indian River Victims’ Rights Coalition, Parents of Murdered Children – Tri-County Chapter, Safe Haven of Northeast Florida, Stop Our Children’s Pain, ChildHelp CEO & Chairman Sara O’Meara, Florida Smart Justice Alliance, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association and more than 50 individual Florida sheriffs have endorsed Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida.
Also standing in support for Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law are Governor Rick Scott, former Governor Jeb Bush, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, former Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, State Senate Majority Leader Wilton Simpson, former State Attorney Willie Meggs, former State Attorney Rod Smith, State Attorney Dave Aronberg, State Attorney Ed Brodsky, State Attorney Jack Campbell, State Attorney William Eddins, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney Brad King, State Attorney R.J. Larizza, State Attorney Melissa Nelson, State Attorney Dennis Ward and State Attorney Andrew Warren.
For more information on Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, visit marsyslawforfl.com.
