Marsys Law is the strongest Victims Bill of Rights in any state in the nation. Its passage means that, for the first time, victims in California have meaningful and enforceable rights. The law includes these rights:
The rights to justice and due process
The right to refuse to submit to interrogation by a defendant or his lawyer before trial
The right to notice of all proceedings
The right to confer with the prosecutor
The right to be present whenever the defendant has the right to be present
The right to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, and to be treated with fairness and respect
The right to be heard --at critical stages of the criminal justice system-- any time that a victim's rights are at issue
The right to restitution
The right to have victims' safety considered before any release decisions are made
The right to a speedy trial and to reasonable finality
The right to know when an offender is being released, or escapes
The right to enforce these special rights in any court
The right to protect victims' confidential records
The right of victims be informed of their Marsy rights-- just as defendants are given their Miranda rights
Marsy's Law gives victims a meaningful opportunity to participate in parole proceedings and their safety and the safety of the general public are the critical standard, before any release decisions are made. This has meant setting a new maximum of 15 years between parole hearings.
KTTV Fox 11 Interview with Dr. Henry Nick Nicholas and Marcella Leach on Marsy's Law
