Lawmakers are considering a plan to spell out rights of crime victims. Illinois voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2014. Representative Lou Lang is sponsoring a measure to implement it into existing law.
The Democrat from Skokie says without the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, victims had no recourse in certain cases.
"Those rights were unenforceable. The constitutional amendment, along with House Bill 1121, give victims and their families a path to get what they need out of the court system at some very difficult times in their life."
Those rights include being notified when the perpetrator is released from prison and having hearings rescheduled to make sure victims can be present if they choose.