Crime victim advocates are encouraging Illinois voters to approve a proposed Constitutional amendment aimed at protecting victims' rights. But not everyone thinks an amendment is needed.
In Illinois, crime victims have the right to be told about court dates, to attend trials and to give impact statements. Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins is director of victims advocacy group Marsy's Law for Illinois.
"You have victims' rights, but if they are violated, there's no way to fix it, there's no remedy, and there's no right of the victim to talk to the court directly to ask for their rights to be protected."
Bishop-Jenkins says Illinois' Constitution needs language that enforces these rights. But the Illinois State Bar Association says instead, statutes could fix these issues.
Stephen Baker of the Cook County Public Defender's Office agrees.
"It's much ado about symbolism in terms of the Constitutional Amendment."
The issue will be on the November ballot.
