Requires victims be notified of right to make a victim impact statement and allows them to personally appear at parole hearings and make such a statement

• Democratic4
• Republican3

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Toby Ann Stavisky says this is needed

While the mechanism to submit a victim impact statement already exists, few crime victims are aware of their right to submit this statement, nor are most informed of their right to be notified when their assailant is up for parole. Many crime victims do not file written victim impact statements, suggesting that most are unaware of the right to do so. The effect that a crime can have on its victim(s) can be devastating, but the criminal justice system does not encourage crime victims to voice the impact an offense, has had on them mentally, physically, emotionally or financially. The district attorney's office, which is in close communication with the victims, rarely informs them of their right to file victim impact statements. The victim impact statement, if avail- able, is put in the criminal's permanent file with the Division of Parole and is reviewed by the parole board examining an inmate's applic6tion for early release. When parole boards review an inmate's application for release, insuffi- cient consideration is given to the effect the criminal's action has had on the victim(s). Parole board members need tc be reminded of the reason the inmate is in prison and the nature of the crime committed. fricreas- ing the response rate for victim impact statements and allowing crime victims the opportunity to speak at parole board hearings will present to parole boards a reminder of the impact the criminals' actions have had on their victims. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE H/STORY: 2005-2006: A.4438/S.2230 - Referred to Codes. 2007-2008: A.4741/S.2664 - Referred to Codes. 2009-2010: A.4539/S.1748 - Referred to Codes. 2011-2012: A.No same as/S.1781-A - Referred to Codes. 2013-2014: A.2409/S.476 - Referred to Codes. 2015-2016: A.89/S.3154 - Referred to Codes. 2017-2018: A.No same as/S.5220 - Referred to Codes. 2019-2020: A.No same as/S.2924 - Referred to codes. 2021-2022: A.9074/S.6647-B - Referred to Education. 2023-2024: A.2724/S1815 - Referred to Codes.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.