Marsy’s Law significantly expands the rights of victims in California. Under Marsy’s Law, the California Constitution article I, § 28, section (b) now provides victims with the following enumerated rights:
- The rights to justice and due process
- The right to notice of all proceedings
- The right to be present whenever the defendant has the right to be present
- The right to be heard –at critical stages of the criminal justice system –any time that a victim’s rights are at issue
- The right to have victims’ safety considered before any release decisions are made
- The right to know when an offender is being released, or escapes
- The right to protect victims’ confidential records
- The right to refuse submit to interrogation by a defendant or his lawyer before trial
- The right to confer with the prosecutor
- The right to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, and to be treated with fairness and respect
- The right to restitution
- The right to a speedy trial and to reasonable finality
- The right to enforce these special rights in any court
- The right of victims be informed of their Marsy rights –just as defendants are given their Miranda rights
To read Marsy’s law in full use the link provided below
http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2008/general/text-proposed-laws/text-of-propos…