Continuing to highlight the need for crime victims’ rights, Marsy’s Law for Florida today launched the third set of videos in their social media campaign in support of Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, which would provide crime victims and their families with clear, enforceable rights in the state constitution if passed by 60 percent of voters.
The videos feature two parents of crime victims sharing their deeply personal stories about the criminal justice system and urging voters to support Amendment 6 to strengthen protections for crime victims and their families without weakening or removing any of the rights currently afforded to those accused or convicted of a crime.
Appearing in the videos are:
- Gail Stewart of Tallahassee, whose son was hit by an impaired driver
- Pat Tuthill of Tallahassee, whose daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered
Florida is one of only 15 states that does not have clear, enforceable rights for victims in its state constitution. Some of the constitutional-level rights and protections Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida would provide 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
For more information on Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, visit marsyslawforfl.com or engage with the campaign socially on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #YesOn6.
About Marsy’s Law
Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, has made it his mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights. He formed Marsy’s Law for All in 2009, providing expertise and resources to victims’ rights organizations nationwide.
