Victim's_Rights

Victim’s Rights The United States Constitution provides protection for all citizens and their individual rights. Among The Bill of Rights, Amendments: Four, Five, Six, and Fourteen, specifically protect individuals who stand accused of a crime (Cassell, Twist, 1996). Surprisingly, there is not an amendment that serves to protect the rights of a crime victim. Adopting a victim’s rights amendment to the United States Constitution would greatly improve the plight of crime victims. Dating back to December of 1982, the federal government has been trying to protect the rights of victims, by implementing an amendment in the Constitution that would allow each victim the right to be present and heard during the trial of the accused defendant (Cassell, Twist, 1996). Crime victims need to share how the crime against them has changed their lives, have the right to be made aware of a potential plea bargain, be present a parole hearings, and be notified if and when the offender has been released from prison (Cassell, Twist, 1996). The amendments vary from state to state. The rights of the citizens need to be clear across the country. If and when a victim’s rights amendment is to be included in the Constitution, the national government should have the sole power to implement and mandate that the rights be clearly identified. People can become a victim anywhere, in any state., and they should know their rights regardless of what state they are in. Each state should have little impact on defining the rights of victims, states have no right to alter the rights of the accused. Too often, the cries of the crime victims go unheard. The lives of those convicted will go on, possibly receive therapeutic help while incarcerated, and may even get a second chance outside the prison walls. They may never give the victims of their crimes another thought. However, the lives of crime victims will never be the same. The rights of the individuals have already been taken away from them once they become a victim of crime, they should not become a victim of the judicial system as well. References Cassell, Paul G.; Twist, Steven J. (December, 1, 1996). The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. A Bill of Rights for Crime Victims: Criminal Law & Procedure Practice Group Newsletter-Volume 1, Issue 1, Fall 1996. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from http://www.fed-soc.org/publications/pubid.1444/pub_detail.asp