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Marsy’s Law for Florida today launched the second set of videos in their social media campaign in support of Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, which would embed a new set of crime victims’ rights in the state constitution if passed by 60 percent of voters.

Sharing their personal experiences with the criminal justice system, the crime victims and survivors appearing in the new videos illustrate the ways Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida strengthens protections for crime victims and their families while preserving due process for those accused or convicted of a crime.

Featured in the videos are:

• Ann Rowe of Tallahassee, who was sexually assaulted and beaten
• Francis Futrill of Jacksonville, whose daughter was murdered

Florida is one of only 15 states that does not have clear, enforceable rights for victims in its state constitution. Some of the constitutional-level rights and protections Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida would provide include:

• The right to have standing in court
• The right to present at all proceedings involving the case
• The right to reasonable and timely notice of proceedings
• The right to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement or pardon
• The right to timely notice of any release, escape or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
• The right to timely information about the outcome of the case

For more information on Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, visit www.marsyslawforfl.com or engage with the campaign socially on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #YesOn6.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams shares his support for Marsy's Law/Amendment 6 in an opinion-editorial for the Florida Times-Union. Click here to read his column online, or scroll down: 

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and unfortunately, chances are high that you know someone who has been affected in some way by this crime. It is a national issue that those of us in law enforcement deal with far too frequently.

Whether or not it’s reported, domestic violence is still a crime. It takes courage for a victim to pick up the phone and call for help and when they do, they should have their rights protected and explained to them in the same way we protect the rights of the accused.

Right now, law enforcement does not have that ability because the Florida Constitution does not clearly define what those rights are. That’s simply not right and that’s why I’m supporting Amendment 6.

Amendment 6, commonly known as Marsy’s Law for Florida, will give victims of all crimes the constitutional protections they deserve. Currently, our state constitution gives a very vague definition of what rights victims have when a crime has been committed. Amendment 6 will clearly define those rights to ensure basic, commonsense protections for crime victims. These rights do not surpass those of the accused, but rather puts the victim and the accused on equal footing.

The men and women of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office work with crime victims every day. To hear the stories of how some have been silenced in criminal proceedings is heart-breaking. One local man’s wife was brutally murdered in their home and not once has he been notified of a hearing for the man arrested for murdering her.

Others who have asked to be heard at a trial have either been denied that opportunity or simply not been informed as to the status of the case. There are also situations where a victim has been approached by their attacker after authorities failed to notify them their attacker had been released from jail. These are not hypothetical situations, these are real victims of real crimes who deserve more than to just fall through the cracks.

I took an oath to protect and defend our community and our constitution. By supporting Amendment 6, I believe I can do both to the best of my ability. Being a victim is hard enough without the fear and uncertainty that goes along with the ambiguity of our current judicial system. Together, we can change that and give victims their voices back. Join me and vote yes on Amendment 6.

Mike Williams is sheriff of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer shares the heartbreak his family faced after his father and sister were murdered in a new “Yes on Amendment 6” ad campaign running across Florida. Part of a major statewide broadcast, cable and digital advertising campaign, the new ad asks voters to support Amendment 6, which would place clear, enforceable rights for crime victims in the state constitution without removing any of the protections already afforded to the defendant. The campaign has been launched by Marsy’s Law for Florida, a group that has been advocating for rights for crime victims that are equal to those already provided to the accused and convicted.

Grammer, who attended high school in Fort Lauderdale and is best-known for his starring role in the hit television sitcom, Frasier, witnessed first-hand the lack of rights for crime victims and their surviving family members following the murder of his father, Frank Grammer, and the rape and murder of his sister, Karen Grammer, seven years after his father’s tragic death. Grammer’s family was not notified when his father’s killer was released from prison, which is why Grammer has made it his personal mission to ensure other crime victims are treated with the fairness, dignity and respect they deserve. Grammer was not paid for his participation in the campaign.

“Kelsey Grammer’s story is far too familiar for many Floridians. Without clear, enforceable protections in the state constitution, Florida crime victims and their family members often find their rights considered sub-par to those of the accused, which is unfair and unjust,” said Greg Ungru, state director of Marsy’s Law for Florida. “A person accused or convicted of a crime should always be entitled to his or her constitutional rights, but crime victims deserve the same consideration. Amendment 6 balances the scales of justice while preserving due process, and we are incredibly grateful for Kelsey Grammer’s steadfast support and dedication to this cause. We hope all Floridians will stand up for crime victims and vote yes on Amendment 6.”

If passed by voters by a margin of 60 percent or greater in November, Amendment 6 will place a new, specific set of distinct rights for crime victims in the Florida Constitution. Some of these basic, commonsense rights include:

• The right to have standing in court
• The right to present at all proceedings involving the case
• The right to reasonable and timely notice of proceedings
• The right to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement or pardon
• The right to timely notice of any release, escape or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
• The right to timely information about the outcome of the case

Together with Kelsey Grammer, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, Justice Coalition, Peyton Tuthill Foundation, MADD, Victim Services Center of Central Florida, Indian River Victims’ Rights Coalition, Parents of Murdered Children – Tri-County Chapter, Safe Haven of Northeast Florida, Stop Our Children's Pain, ChildHelp CEO & Chairman Sara O’Meara, Florida Smart Justice Alliance, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, Lauren’s Kids and more than 60 individual Florida sheriffs have endorsed Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, as well as local and state elected officials from both parties.

For more information on Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, visit www.marsyslawforfl.com.

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About Marsy’s Law

Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail.  In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, has made it his mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights. He formed Marsy’s Law for All in 2009, providing expertise and resources to victims’ rights organizations nationwide.

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission voted 34-3 to place Amendment 6 on the ballot for the election. The 37-member commission, which meets every 20 years to propose changes to the Florida Constitution is unique among the states. Florida is the only state with a commission empowered to refer constitutional amendments to the ballot.

The constitutional amendment regarding the rights of crime victims, known as Marsy’s Law, would provide crime victims, their families and their lawful representatives with specific rights, including a right to due process and to be treated with fairness and respect; a right to be free from intimidation, harassment and abuse; a right to have the victim’s welfare considered when setting bail; and a right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, among others.

Amendment 6 includes two additional provisions, one to increase the mandatory retirement age for judges and one related to judicial interpretation. I believe the victims’ rights component is absolutely crucial to our criminal-justice system and, therefore, I support Amendment 6.

The U.S. criminal-justice system is set up to give numerous rights to individuals accused and convicted of crimes, providing an excellent legal standard to ensure all defendants are treated fairly. Yet, the U.S. Constitution and 15 state constitutions do not extend equal rights to victims of the crime, leaving them powerless. I stand with nearly 60 Florida sheriffs in saying it’s time for change. It’s time for Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida.

After a crime occurs, many people question what will happen to the suspect, but very few focus on what will happen to the crime victims and their families. I’ve lost track of the number of times I have read criminals their rights; however, I cannot say the same for crime victims. Florida is one of only 15 states without clear, enforceable protections for crime victims in our state constitution and that should change.

As the sheriff for Orange County, I took an oath to protect and serve our community to the best of my ability. Despite my vigilant efforts to reduce crime rates and ensure citizens are protected, many crime victims still live in fear and are confused about their rights. My deputies and I work tirelessly to help them recover and heal, but without clear, enforceable constitutional laws and protections in place, it can be difficult to find solutions.In November, Florida voters can speak up for the crime victims who are voiceless by voting yes on Amendment 6. If passed by 60 percent of voters, Amendment 6 will provide the victims similar rights and protections that are afforded to the accused and convicted. I believe Marsy’s Law should have been placed in our constitution a long time ago, and I look forward to voting yes on 6.

Let’s make history, and let victims and their families know Florida stands with them in ensuring equal justice under the law.

Jerry L. Demings is Orange County sheriff and mayor-elect.

Read more: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-op-amendment-6-vote-yes-sheriff-jerry-demings-20181001-story.html

Marsy’s Law for Florida today launched a new social media video campaign in support of Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, which would embed a new set of crime victims’ rights in the state constitution if passed by 60 percent of voters. The series of videos feature crime victims, survivors and advocates sharing their personal stories and reasons for supporting Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida.

The crime victims and survivors appearing in the video series not only share their deeply personal and poignant stories of how crime has forever altered their lives, but also describe ways in which they feel the criminal justice system has ignored them, left them without a voice and revictimized them.

In the first set of videos released, featured are:

• Agnes Furey of Tallahassee, whose daughter and grandson were murdered
• Kathy Swafford of Jacksonville, who was sexually abused by her stepfather
• State Attorney Andrew Warren, Florida’s 13^th Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County

“Sadly, the stories featured in our social media campaign are just a few examples of the types of scenarios playing out across Florida each day. Victims who were left in the dark about their case, victims who were forced to become their own legal advocate, victims whose voices were never heard and victims who were not informed their perpetrator was released from prison therefore compromising their safety,” said Greg Ungru, Marsy’s Law for Florida State Director. “The rights provided for under Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida would have changed each of these victims’ experiences in the criminal justice system. It time to correct these injustices by voting YES to the coequal rights provided by Amendment 6.”

Florida is one of only 15 states that does not have clear, enforceable rights for victims in its state constitution. Some of the constitutional-level rights and protections Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida would provide include:

• The right to have standing in court
• The right to present at all proceedings involving the case
• The right to reasonable and timely notice of proceedings
• The right to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement or pardon
• The right to timely notice of any release, escape or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
• The right to timely information about the outcome of the case

The new social media campaign coincides with a substantial statewide broadcast, cable and digital advertising campaign encouraging Floridians to vote in favor of Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida.

For more information on Amendment 6/Marsy’s Law for Florida, visit www.marsyslawforfl.com.