Expands the constitutional rights of crime victims
Supports amending Section 37 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution, a section addressing the rights of crime victims, with a version of a Marsy's Law.
The amendment, known as a Marsy's Law would provide crime victims with specific rights, upon request, including:
- to receive reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of court proceedings;
- to be reasonably heard at any court proceeding involving the plea, conviction, adjudication, sentencing, or release of the accused;
- to be present at any proceeding involving a plea, sentencing, parole, release of the defendant, and any proceeding in which the victim's rights are implicated, except for the defendant's initial appearance;
- to restitution in a reasonably timely manner, when ordered by the court;
- to receive information about the conviction, adjudication, or final disposition and sentence of the accused;
- to receive notification of escape, release, proposed parole or pardon of the accused; and
- to present the victim’s views and concerns to the governor or agency considering taking an action that could release the accused.
