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Marsy’s Law for MS is working to bring more attention to the rights of crime victims JACKSON – The Office for Victims of Crime, an agency within the Department of Justice, has declared April 7-13 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). This year NCVRW celebrates the progress made by those before us as we look to a future of crime victim services that is even more inclusive, accessible and trauma-informed. Marsy’s Law for Mississippi has been traveling the state in an effort to educate and inform local and state elected officials, as well as voters throughout Mississippi, about the need to strengthen the rights of victims in our state.
In honor of NCVRW, the Governor’s Mansion (Jackson), the Hard Rock Casino (Biloxi), and the Lee County Courthouse (Tupelo) were lit in purple for a 24-hour period beginning at dusk on Monday the 8th until dusk on Tuesday the 9th. Mississippians in the Northern, Central and Southern part of the state will be reminded about the importance of having a real debate to ensure that crime victims in Mississippi will have the same rights no matter the city or county they live in.
The focus of Marsy’s Law for Mississippi is to update and strengthen existing crime victims’ rights overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1998. In addition, Marsy’s Law would give crime victims the right to be notified when an offender escapes or absconds from probation or parole and the right to confer with prosecutors. It also specifically grants victims the legal standing to address the court and ask to have their rights enforced in cases when those rights have been ignored.
Marsy’s Law for Mississippi is a bi-partisan effort that has won support from public officials throughout Mississippi. This effort has also won support from victims’ groups such as The Center for Violence Prevention. These individuals understand how important it is for victims to have their voice heard – all victims in Mississippi should have the same rights regardless of what community they live in.
