ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 85

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 10, 1996

 

 

By Assemblywoman MURPHY, Assemblymen DeCROCE and Bucco

 

 

A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States establishing the rights of victims of crimes.

 

Whereas, In applying and interpreting the vital guarantees of the United States Constitution that protect all citizens, the criminal justice system has lost an essential balance; and

Whereas, The criminal justice system has not provided adequate protection to the innocent, the honest, and the helpless victims of crime; and

Whereas, In 1982 the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime recommended an amendment to the Constitution of the United States addressing victims' rights; and

Whereas, Under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, amendments to the Constitution of the United States may be proposed by the Congress of the United States or, upon the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states, the Congress shall call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing amendments; and

Whereas, There is currently before the Congress for consideration a proposed crime victims' rights amendment; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper that this Legislature go on record as urging the Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims and restore balance to the criminal justice system; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

    1. The Legislature of this State requests the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States addressing the rights of victims of crime. The Legislature further requests the Congress to define the term "victim of a crime" in the proposed amendment.


    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice President of the United States and each member of Congress elected from this State.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This concurrent resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States addressing crime victims' rights. The resolution also memorializes the Congress to define the term "victim of a crime" in the proposed amendment. The New Jersey Constitution (Article I, para.22) grants crime victims certain rights and also provides a definition of the term "victim of a crime."

 

 

                             

 

Memorializes Congress to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution addressing crime victims' rights.