CVU Supports AB 1681
Making Victims’ Rights Real: Why AB 1681 Matters
California voters made a clear promise to crime victims when they passed Marsy’s Law. That promise was simple: victims have the right to be informed, to be heard, and to be protected throughout the criminal justice process.
Assembly Bill 1681 (Ramos) focuses on a critical gap between that promise and reality.
What AB 1681 Does
AB 1681 ensures that victims and next of kin are actually enrolled to receive important notifications about an offender’s custody status.
Rather than requiring victims to complete a separate form after sentencing, the bill allows victim notification information to be transmitted directly to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the time of sentencing, alongside existing court documentation.
This change does not create new rights. It ensures that the rights already guaranteed under Marsy’s Law are delivered.
The Problem With the Current System
Under current practice, victims must complete CDCR Form 1707 to receive notifications about key developments, including:
Release or transfer of an offender
Parole hearings and decisions
Escapes
Special parole conditions
In reality, this system is not working.
Approximately 75 percent of victims and next of kin never complete the form.
There are several reasons why:
The form can be confusing or overwhelming
Victims are often navigating trauma at the time they are expected to complete it
Many assume their information is automatically shared between the courts and CDCR
Too often, victims only discover later that they were never enrolled. By then, critical information has already been missed.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
California’s criminal justice landscape has changed significantly in recent years.
Policies such as:
Expanded credit earning
Early release programs
Advanced parole hearings
Resentencing reforms
have shortened incarceration timelines in many cases.
That makes timely and reliable notification even more important. Victims cannot prepare, participate, or protect themselves if they are unaware of what is happening.
Closing the Gap
AB 1681 addresses a procedural breakdown in a practical and effective way.
By shifting notification enrollment to the sentencing stage, the bill:
Removes unnecessary administrative barriers
Reduces the burden on victims during a traumatic time
Ensures more consistent and reliable communication
Brings the system in line with the intent of Marsy’s Law
This is not a policy expansion. It is a correction to ensure the system functions as it was intended.
A System That Works for Victims
For decades, Crime Victims United has worked to ensure that victims are not overlooked once a case moves forward.
Rights on paper are not enough. They must be accessible, understandable, and automatic wherever possible.
AB 1681 is a straightforward step toward making that happen.
Support AB 1681
Victims should not have to navigate complex processes just to receive information they are already entitled to.
AB 1681 ensures that California follows through on its commitment to victims. Crime Victims United is proud to support this measure and urges an AYE vote.