Marsy’s Law Rally At The Capitol
Advocates of a bill about rights for victims of criminals are pressuring the Hawaii Legislature to pass the measure.
 has been moving along at the Hawaii Legislature, but the bill called “Marsy’s Law” faces a deadline next week or it’s likely dead for 2016.
The legislation proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to provide victims of crimes with specific rights related to the criminal justice process.
Those rights include victims being notified of any legal proceedings related to the crimes — e.g., when bail is fixed and in setting release conditions for the accused — and to be heard at those proceedings.
It also includes being treated “with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy,” according to in the bill.
SB 3034, introduced by Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran, has passed the full Senate and House Judiciary and awaits a hearing in House Finance.
The measure has many supporters and opponents, and testimony has led to several drafts of the bill.
Marsy’s Law is modeled on the California Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008. Marsy Nicholas, a senior at the University of California at Santa Barbara, was by her ex-boyfriend.
The rally Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., is at the Liliuokalani Statue at the Capitol.
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