By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Victim advocates say they are running out of time to get an amendment to the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights passed in Illinois.
The Illinois House approved it on April 23. Director of Marsy’s Law in Illinois, Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, it’s time senators get on board before the spring legislative session ends. She said the measure would give crime victims a voice in the criminal justice system.
“It’s important for victims’ families to be able to participate in their legal cases and that’s what the voters of Illinois voters gave us the ability to do,” Bishop-Jenkins said. “Now we have to implement it.”
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Bishop-Jenkins on WJBC.
Seventy-eight percent of Illinois voters approved an advisory measure for the constitutional amendment last November. The changes are intended to ensure crime victims by allowing them to assert those rights in court.
The Illinois Senate hasn’t taken up the measure yet, but Bishop-Jenkins said lawmakers in that chamber are working out some details before bringing it to a vote, including one provision pertaining to a victims’ privacy.
“Victims want to be able to keep some of their records private. We’ve actually had rape victims whose dairies have been subpoenaed unnecessarily, no evidence about the rape in those diaries,” Bishop-Jenkins said. “They just want to besmirch their past.”
Bishop-Jenkins wants people to call their state senators, urging them to pass the bill before the spring session ends.
“Call Senate President (John) Cullerton and ask them to move this bill forward because we are running out of time at the end of this session,” Bishop-Jenkins said.
Bishop-Jenkins has been an advocate for victims’ rights since her sister, brother in law and their baby were murdered 25 years ago.
Marsy’s Law is named for a young California woman who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
