Victims of crime could have a broader set of rights under a proposed change to the Illinois Constitution.
A measure is pending in the Illinois Senate and could come up for a vote this week. The Illinois Constitution has guaranteed the rights of crime victims since 1992. But backers of the constitutional amendment say those rights are routinely ignored. Heather Steans is a Democratic senator from Chicago: "Victims aren't notified when the accused has been getting sentenced, so they're not able to present testimony at those sentencing hearings."
Backers say the amendment would give the protections some teeth. Victims or their lawyers, for example, could insist on being heard on plea deals. Prosecutors say they're always working on behalf of victims. But they worry the new rights are ambiguous, and could interfere with their jobs. Anita Alvarez is the Cook County state's attorney: "What if a victim's attorney does not agree with the charging decision by the state's attorney? Or the trial strategies?"
A different version of the measure already passed the House 116-to-2. If the House and Senate can agree, the constitutional amendment would be put to a statewide referendum this fall.
