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10 Years Without Justice

A recent update from the West Des Moines Police department outlined one of Iowa's most high profile cold cases in recent times ... and the search for justice for Ashley Okland and her family continues to this day. 

 

 

Support, Build, Engage

 

Since Marsy's Law for Iowa was created, we have honored National Crime Victims' Rights Week. 

 

 

Meet the Interns

While things certainly look different for our interns this year because of COVID, we have been thankful for their help. We wanted to take a minute and introduce you to Kylie and Emily. 

Do Victims’ Rights Violate A Defendant’s Right to Confrontation?

Opponents of victims’ rights love to claim that giving a victim the right to participate in the criminal justice process will somehow violate a defendant’s constitutional rights to due process and confrontation found in the 6th Amendment of the US Constitution. The argument is compelling, because it seems simple on its face to anyone with a general understanding of constitutional rights, but the interpretation of the 6th Amendment is not that simple. As a member of the Bill of Rights, the 6th Amendment has been around since the ratification of our constitution, making it ripe for over 230 years of judicial interpretation. It has undergone intense judicial review, which has concluded indisputably that the 6th Amendment rights to due process and confrontation are not without restriction. Defendants’ rights are not absolute, they must be balanced with the rights held by all parties and participants in court. It is the literal reason we have an existing appellate court system in this country – to determine the proper balance of rights.

 

 

Iowa Can Do Better for Black Citizens

 

February is Black History Month and we want to talk about exactly how Iowa can do better for its Black citizens.

 

 

Survivor Mission

They're on a mission and they won't stop until they're successful. 

 

You might remember Leigh and Audrey. These two have been with us from the very beginning. Their story is one that is so awful, it's almost unbelievable. And while it's certainly hard for them to talk about, they won't be silenced. In their minds, if they can prevent even one Iowan from going through what they did, it will have been worth it. 

 

So they're at it again, and this time they shared their story with WHO-TV in Des Moines.