Pennsylvania Unlike crime victims in thirty-two other states, crime victims in Pennsylvania have no constitutional rights.
Across the country, concerned citizens have been working to amend state constitutions to provide rights for victims of crime. While every state provides some legal rights for crime victims as part of their state code, those that have amended their constitutions have sought to ensure three things:
crime victims' rights are protected in the same way that defendants' rights are protected;
crime victims' rights are a permanent part of the criminal justice system; and
courts would have the power to enforce crime victims' rights if they are violated.
To date, 32 states have amended their constitutions to include rights of crime victims. PA IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
PA is one of the 13 States shown in RED that does not have a constitutional amendment for crime victims rights.
Alabama Passed in 1994 70% of Voters Approved Alaska Passed in 1994 with 87% of Voters Approving Arizonia Passed in 1990 with 58% of Voters Approving California Passed in 1982 Colorado Passed in 1991 with 86% of Voters Approving Connecticut Passed with 78.5% of Voters Approving Delaware - NO Constitutional Rights District of Columbia - NO Constitutional Rights Florida Passed in 1987 with 90% of Voters Approving Georgia - NO Constitutional Rights Hawaii - NO Constitutional Rights Idaho Passed in 1994 with 79% of Voters Approving Illinois Passed in 1992 with 77% of Voters Approving Indiana Passed in 1996 with 89% of Voters Approving Iowa - NO Constitutional Rights Kansas Passed in 1992 with 84% of Voters Approving Kentucky - NO Constitutional Rights Louisiana Passed in 1998 with 68% of Voters Approving Maine - NO Constitutional Rights Maryland Passed in 1994 with 92% of Voters Approving Massachusetts - NO Constitutional Rights Michigan Passed in 1988 with 80% of Voters Approving Minnesota - NO Constitutional Rights Mississippi Passed in 1998 with 93% of Voters Approving Missiouri Passed in 1990 with 84% of Voters Approving Montana - NO Constitutional Rights Nebraska Passed in 1997 with 78% of Voters Approving Nevada Passed in 1996 with 74% of Voters Approving New Hampshire - NO Constitutional Rights New Jersey Passed in 1991 with 85% of Voters Approving New Mexico Passed in 1992 with 68% of Voters Approving New York - NO Constitutional Rights North Carolina Passed in 1996 with 78% of Voters Approving North Dakota - NO Constitutional Rights Ohio Passed in 1994 with 77% of Voters Approving Oklahoma Passed in 1996 with 91% of Voters Approving Oregon Passed in 1999 with 58% of Voters Approving Pennsylvania- NO Constitutional Rights Rhode Island Passed in 1986 South Carolina Passed in 1996 with 90% of Voters Approving South Dakota - NO Constitutional Rights Tennessee Passed in 1998 with 89% of Voters Approving Texas Passed in 1989 with 73% of Voters Approving Utah Passed in 1994 with 68% of Voters Approving Vermont - NO Constitutional Rights Virginia Passed in 1996 with 84% of Voters Approving Washington Passed in 1989 with 78% of Voters Approving W. Virginia - NO Constitutional Rights Wisconsin Passed in 1993 with 84% of Voters Approving Wyoming - NO Constitutional Rights
What does this mean to a crime victim in PA? It means that you have NO legal standing if one of your rights is violated. Example: As a crime victim in PA, you have the right to be notified of all proceedings, however if a crime victim shows up for a proceeding and it has been cancelled, delayed or whatever and they were not notified, there is nothing you can do. It's another loss day of wages, anguish over waiting for the justice system to do it's job and more sleepless nights. Example: Victim/survivor went thru hearing, trial or several; before anyone contacts you from the prosecutors office, you read in the daily newspaper of an appeal or information that was not discussed with you. Crime Victims should be treated with dignity, respect and fairness at all times! It is very hurtful to learn second hand information concerning a loved one.
Court Delays - A person charged with a crime has a constitutional right to have a speedy trial; yet the victim/survivor is not guaranteed the same right. Defense attorneys delay, delay, delay over and over again, making the victims of crime endure more hardship. Many states have constitutional amendments to guarantee that crime victims share the right to a speedy resolution.
Victim Impact Statements - A crime victim has the right (PA Bill of Rights) to offer an impact statement at the time of sentencing. Example - crime victims/survivors wait for jury selection only to be notified defendant is accepting a plea bargain. Survivor may be sequestered in library during process and excluded from offering a statement. Other states have guaranteed that all survivors are present during sentencing and documented on court records to ensure that this does not happen.
New Jersey -
Victims are the people behind crime statistics. They are the individuals who suffer the injuries inflicted by criminals and who reveal the existence of crime when they report it. Victims are the key to apprehending criminals and the justification for the State's subsequent prosecution.
Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office for Victims of Crime The Voices of Victims Series Constitutional Amendment: Balancing the Scales NCJ 213808
Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office for Victims of Crime The Voices of Victims Series Notice and Basic Case Information NCJ 213807
Department of Justice; Office of Justice Programs; Office for Victims of Crime; The Voices of Victims Series; Financial Considerations; NCJ 213806
Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office for Victims of Crime The Voices of Victims Series Criminal Justice Professionals NCJ 213806
Contact your Legislators here..
Contact your Representative and tell them you want to ensure PA Victims Rights
