On Friday, October 25, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has officially endorsed Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania, an effort to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to guarantee rights for crime victims.
Senator Casey – who joins Governor Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in voicing support for Marsy’s Law – issued the following statement:
“Throughout my career, I have been honored to stand with victims and survivors to ensure that they receive the support and protection that they deserve in this country. Today, I stand with elected officials, law enforcement, prosecutors and victims from across the Commonwealth to support Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania.
Marsy’s Law is a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would ensure victims receive greater and more meaningful rights under Pennsylvania state law. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is one of only nine states that does not include any victims’ rights under its constitution. Marsy’s Law would address this issue by ensuring that a victim will receive certain constitutional rights in Pennsylvania, such as the right to receive notice and be heard at certain hearings. This amendment will ensure that victims’ rights are ‘protected in a manner no less vigorous’ than the rights afforded to a perpetrator.
Marsy’s Law is not a partisan issue. It was passed unanimously by both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature during the 2017-2018 session and it was passed overwhelmingly again during the 2018-2019 session. It is on the November ballot for Pennsylvania voters to approve.
I hope all Pennsylvanians will stand with victims of crime by voting for Marsy’s Law on November 5, 2019 and ensure that victims will have equal rights across our great Commonwealth.”
The proposed constitutional amendment, which will appear as a ballot referendum in the November 5 election, would ensure crime victims have the right to: receive information about their rights, receive notification of proceedings in their criminal cases, be present at court proceedings, be heard at plea and sentencing proceedings, and be treated with fairness, respect and dignity.
Senator Casey’s endorsement follows broad, bipartisan support for Marsy’s Law by the Pennsylvania General Assembly over the past two years.