Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) today joined Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Jim Costa (D-CA) in introducing a Victims’ Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in order to guarantee crime victims the same constitutional rights already afforded to criminal defendants. Rep. Royce has long been involved in victims’ rights issues during his time in the California legislature and at a federal level.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) today joined Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Jim Costa (D-CA) in introducing a Victims’ Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in order to guarantee crime victims the same constitutional rights already afforded to criminal defendants. Rep. Royce has long been involved in victims’ rights issues during his time in the California legislature and at a federal level.
“I believe constitutionally protecting victims’ rights is absolutely necessary and appropriate,” said Royce. “In the Constitution, criminal defendants have basic rights. With the Crime Victims’ Rights Amendment, we are simply giving the same basic constitutional rights to crime victims. While protections for victims have been passed at both the state and federal level, they have proven ineffective at removing all the obstacles victims encounter.”
The proposed amendment would guarantee crime victims the right to be notified of court hearings, to attend those hearings, and to be heard at critical stages. Additionally, under this amendment, the crime victim would receive notice of the release or escape of the accused as well as restitution. Because these would be constitutional rights, they could no longer be overruled by the assertion of a defendant’s constitutional rights.
As a state senator in California, Rep. Royce authored Proposition 115, known as the Crime Victims Justice Reform Act, which ensures victims the rights to a speedy trial, reduces the number of times crime victims must testify, and increases sentences and punishment.
At the federal level, Rep. Royce was also involved in passage of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CRVA), which provided for a more comprehensive federal victims’ rights statute. However, even with the CRVA, the GAO found mixed results regarding the effect and efficacy of the law, citing such factors as victim satisfaction, participation and treatment.
“We have made strong progress in securing protections for crime victims in the past two decades but the addition of a Crime Victims’ Rights Amendment will help to ensure victims are not left stymied and frustrated by a system that is meant to protect them,” said Royce.
Reps. Royce, Franks and Costa will speak further about the Crime Victims' Rights Amendment at a press conference on Thursday, April 25th at 10am. Following the press conference, the amendment will be discussed at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice at 11:30.
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