Don’t we already have laws on the books to protect victims of crime?
Statutory rights are insufficient because they can be changed by simple majorities and are not consistently applied depending on where you live. However most significant, Iowa’s victims’ rights statute (Code §915) while extensive, lacks any type of enforcement mechanism. This glaring omission leaves victims with no recourse when their rights are violated. The only available remedy is an apology from the state. With the addition of constitutional rights, victims will have the ability to enforce their rights and seek a remedy when those rights are violated. A constitutional amendment with elevate the rights of victims and enshrine them in the highest law of the land assuring victims meaningful participation in the criminal justice system. Victims deserve to have equal footing to defendants in the criminal justice system.