In March of 2012, Reps. Trent Franks and Jim Costa, introduced House Joint Resolution 106 (H.J. Res. 106), an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which would protect the rights of crime victims.  If this passes, it would be only the 14th time an amendment has been made to the constitution in more than 200 years.

In summary, the proposed Constitutional Amendment prohibits denial or abridgement of the rights of a crime victim to fairness, respect, and dignity. Grants a crime victim the right: (1) to reasonable notice of, and to not be excluded from, public proceedings relating to the offense; (2) to be heard at any release, plea, sentencing, or other such proceeding involving any right established under this amendment; (3) to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; (4) to reasonable notice of the release or escape of the accused; (5) to due consideration of the crime victim’s safety; and (6) to restitution.

This VRA grants the crime victim, or the victim’s lawful representative, standing to fully assert and enforce such rights in any court.

Members of the Victims Rights Movement needs the support of 100 Co-Sponsors before it can be brought to the House floor for a vote; as of today we have 15.  Seems we have a lot of work to do but we can’t do it alone.

You and I make up the WE in “WE THE PEOPLE”, we need to look out for each other if the system isn’t going to do it.  Will you stand up and make a difference that will ensure that ALL of us are treated with dignity and honor?  Will you help protect the rights of current and future victims of crime?  Will you help be part of this massive, much-needed overhaul to an old and antiquated system.  Don’t wait until it happens to you, be part of the change NOW.  (see below to sign the NVCAP petition and how to help in your state)

(excerpt of letter that I sent to staffers in Congressman Buck McKeon’s office (R-CA)

“My name is Kim Goldman … I am the Executive Director of the SCV Youth Project;  however, today I am reaching out to you wearing a different hat, one of a Victim Advocate.  I currently am the Co-Founder of the Ron Goldman Justice Foundation, Board Member for the National Center for Victims of Crime, and a volunteer for a number of other victim/survivor related organizations – so the victim and survivor rights movement, is near and dear to my heart.

My brother Ron Goldman, was killed along side Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994 by O.J. Simpson.  Since their horrific crimes, and the travesty of “injustice” that occurred with his acquittal, I have committed myself to advocating for victim and survivor rights, and ensuring our voices are heard and our rights are protected.  This is a long, arduous task and a painful journey, but we are a mighty crew and a force to be reckoned with.  I have been asked to contact my local Congressman to ask for their support on an upcoming amendment, H.J. Res. 106.  I hope you are familiar with it and that you are going to respond with “Yes, Congressman McKeon is going to support this amendment” … but just in case it hasn’t come across your desk, here is a brief overview.

As you know the US Constitution has only been changed 13 times since it was written more than 200 years ago, with this proposal we are hoping to make it 14.

Currently, there are 23 protected rights for criminals, there is nothing articulated for victims of crime.  Only 3/5 of our nation has adopted a formal Victims Bill of Rights in their states, meaning there is no nationwide Federal Bill of Rights that serves ALL citizens and potential victims; we want to change that and we need Congress to agree and then vote.

Our proposed amendment would include (in layman’s terms): 1) the right to fairness, respect and dignity 2) to be given reasonable and timely notice to all public hearings, delays in court, and have the right to be heard at pleas, sentencing, or other proceedings to relating to the offense, 3) to ensure that OUR safety is also being protected and considered, not just the accused.  This  is just a summary, a more concise description of the proposed amendment is available.

It seems logical and one would expect that these things are already in place but they are not.  I travel the country as a Victim Advocate and hear horrific stories of victims, survivors, families being treated with such disregard as if THEY were the ones on trial.  The disrespect and dismissal of our rights and our humanity, quietly chips away and erodes our faith and belief in our great constitution and our Justice System.

Despite how public our trial was, we were little fishes in a huge sea.  I had to fight for a seat to attend my brothers murder trial, because the seats were all given to the accused … I had to sneak Kleenex into the courtroom, while the accused had boxes on his table … I was forbidden to leave the room during autopsy testimony for fear of disrupting the proceedings, while the accused could come and go at his leisure.  One would think that the process would be AT LEAST be fair.  One would think that a family could expect decency and sensitivity while experiencing such horrific trauma… One would think a lot of things….but it’s now time to DO.

The proposed Crime Victims’ Rights U.S. Constitutional Amendment is a bold request, but it is time for a courageous change to our current legislation.”