02/08/00 Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on the Judiciary

Henry J. Hyde, Chairman

News Advisory

For immediate release February 8, 1999

Contact: Sam Stratman/Terry Shawn (202) 225-2492

Subcommittee Hearing Scheduled

to Review Constitutional Amendment for Crime Victim Rights

What: Hearing on H.J. Res 64, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States to

Protect the Rights of Crime Victims

Subcommittee on the Constitution, Rep. Charles Canady (R-FL), Chairman

When: 10 a.m., Thursday, February 10, 2000

Where: Room 2237, Rayburn House Office BuildingAs America's crime rate has risen during the past 40 years, so has interest in protecting the rights of crime victims. Constitutional rights for persons accused of crimes exist to protect the innocent from false accusations. Crime victims are innocents dragged into the criminal justice system often against their will. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system too often overlooks the legitimate concerns of these crime victims.

What's the Issue:

In 1982, the Presidential Task Force on Victims of Crime concluded that only a Constitutional amendment could successfully protect crime victims. Congress and state governments have worked to enact victims' rights statutes, but enforcement of such laws has been met with resistence from courts, prosecutors and defense lawyers. Beginning in 1995, supporters of a national solution undertook efforts to enact an amendment.

This hearing will:

Review provisions of a Constitutional amendment (H.J. Res. 64) proposed by U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) that enumerates rights for victims of crime including: the right not to be excluded from all public proceedings involving the accused; the right to comment prior to a plea agreement, sentencing, parole or pardon; as well as the right to seek restitution and the right to reasonable notice of a release or escape.

Tentative Witness List: U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), James A. Barcia (D-MI), Robert C. Scott (D-VA); Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); Andrea Rehkamp, MADD; Christine Long, Law Enforcement Alliance of America; Emmett E. (Bud) Welch, Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation; Marlene A. Young, National Organization for Victim Assistance; Hon. Emmet G. Sullivan, Judicial Conference of the U.S.; Steven J. Twist, National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network, Robert P. Mosteller, Duke University School of Law; Doug Beloof, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College; Bruce Fein, Former Associate Deputy Attorney General.

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