NOTE 2: at 0437 GMT on the 24th of March 2023, the second iteration of this proposal reached quorum with Long Live The Henrarchy's approval, the 62nd all told.
NOTE: the first iteration of this proposal failed to reached quorum due to unexplained issues with update timing
Word count: 376
OOC: Totally not a Marsy's Law, honest. This is my proposed replacement for GA#247 - others' mileages will vary - and will be submitted no earlier than the middle of October 2021.
Fairness for Victims of Crime
A resolution to improve worldwidehumansapient and civil rights.Category: Civil RightsStrength: MildProposed by: Tinhampton
Whereas crime victims deserve privacy and closure, the General Assembly hereby:Co-author: The Hinterplace
- defines, for the purposes of this resolution, a "victim" as a person, any legal guardian thereof (if they are legally incompetent) or their next of kin (if they are deceased), where that person has been harmed by a crime for which a person (P) has been charged with committing, assisting, or conspiring,
- declares that each victim of any crime which P has been charged with committing (with that victim's free and informed consent in each instance) enjoys the right to:
- be informed about the progress and verdict of P's trial,
- attend P's trial, including their sentencing (except where such attendance would threaten national security or P's privacy, or they have been disruptive at any time during that trial), and
- be informed about P's temporary or permanent release from any location, including prison, where they may be detained for committing that crime against them,
- declares that the rights afforded to P shall not be prejudiced in any way if, in legal proceedings, any of the following occur:
- the charges are withdrawn,
- P is ultimately found not guilty of the crime they were charged with committing, assisting or conspiring, or
- mistrial is declared for any reason, including perjury and/or obstruction of justice on the part of a party other than P,
- mandates that members not disclose any victim's personal information in a manner that could result in the person who committed, assisted, or conspired in the crime against them violating their privacy (including by contacting or attempting to contact them by any means without their free and informed consent),
- clarifies that Article d does not prevent those representing a victim, or the person charged with committing the crime against them, in a trial between the two parties from using that victim's personal information in that trial for the sole purposes of such representation,
- requires members to tell every victim about all of the provisions of this resolution as soon as possible after they become a victim, and
- further clarifies that nothing in this resolution either:
- covers civil suits, or
- prevents members from enacting further protections for victims.