1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21434Updated April 16, 2004Victims Rights Amendment: A Sketch of aProposal in the 108th Congress to Amend theUnited States Constitutionname redactedSenior SpecialistAmerican Law Divi
2、sionSummaryThirty-three states have added a victims rights amendment to their stateconstitutions. S.J.Res. 1 (Sens. Kyl and Feinstein)/H.J.Res. 10 (Rep. Royce)/H.J.Res.48 (Rep. Chabot) would add a victims rights amendment to the United StatesConstitution. The Senate Judiciary Committee has reported
3、the measure withoutamendment and at least initially without a written report. The President has endorsedthe Amendment as he had in the 107th Congress (S.J.Res. 35/H.J.Res. 88/H.J.Res. 91).Similar proposals date back to the 104th Congress.The Amendment grants the victims of state and federal violent
4、crimes the right (1)to reasonable and timely notice of public proceedings relating to the crime; (2) toreasonable and timely notice of the release or escape of the accused; (3) not to beexcluded from such public proceedings; (4) reasonably to be heard at public release,plea, sentencing, reprieve, an