Marsy’s Law For Wisconsin Earns More Than 200 Key Endorsements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2017
Contact: Brian Reisinger
715-579-9679
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Earns More Than 200 Key Endorsements
Dane County Chiefs of Police Association joins growing statewide coalition of survivors, victims’ rights advocates, law enforcement, legal experts, and others supporting equal rights for crime victims
[Madison, Wis.] – Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin today announced that it had earned 200 key endorsements, including notable law enforcement organizations like the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association, demonstrating that its broad and bipartisan statewide coalition continues to grow.
Click here for the full list of prominent endorsements, which includes victims’ rights advocates, law enforcement, legal experts, and others joining survivors of crime and their families. Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, introduced as Assembly Joint Resolution 47/Senate Joint Resolution 53, is authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville).
“I’m more encouraged than ever to see growing support in our state – from survivors and families in local communities to prominent leaders – supporting Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin,” said Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, a survivor of a brutal attack by her ex-husband and one of the state’s most prominent victims’ rights advocates. “I know firsthand why giving crime victims equal rights is so important, and the fact that such a broad coalition of supporters agrees gives me hope that we can win the fight to keep our families and communities safe.”
“As a police chief with over 22 years of service and as current president of the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association, I have witnessed how crime impacts victims, their families, and our communities,” said Blue Mounds Police Chief Andrew Rose, president of the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association. “One of law enforcement’s most important responsibilities is to protect victims of crime. Therefore I fully support Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin.”
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin earned the support of the more than 200 key supporters – in addition to community members who have reached out from every corner of Wisconsin – while traveling across the state after first unveiling legislation to update our state Constitution in April. The legislation has bipartisan support from 43 Republicans and Democrats who have co-sponsored the bill in the Legislature, as well as Attorney General Brad Schimel, the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, and every single other major statewide law enforcement organization.
You can read Teri’s story of survival here, and find facts on Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin’s bipartisan legislation below:
- Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin follows a proud tradition in our state of protecting victims’ rights, unlike many other states. Wisconsin already has a constitutional amendment on victims’ rights that passed in 1993 and was the first state in the nation to pass a Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. The state also is recognized as having some of the strongest statutory rights for victims in the country. This means the changes we are proposing are about making sure victims’ rights are truly equal alongside the constitutional rights of the accused – nothing more, nothing less.
- Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin strengthens rights that already exist in Wisconsin. The proposed amendment would do two things: Elevate certain rights currently under state statute to be fully constitutional rights, and build upon and strengthen other rights that are already part of the Constitution. An example of a right that is the law under state statute but needs to be elevated to the Constitution is the right to put victim restitution payments ahead of any dollars owed to the government. An example of a current constitutional right that needs clarification is the right to be heard throughout the legal process, including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement, or pardon – as opposed to just disposition.
- Nearly 80 percent of Wisconsinites support updating our state Constitution to ensure equal rights for crime victims. A poll of Wisconsinites found that nearly 80 percent support updating our state Constitution to ensure equal rights for crime victims. More than 80 percent support a victim’s right to speak up at more points in the criminal justice process, and 68 percent said they were “more likely” to support a state legislative candidate who supported Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. The bipartisan legislation must be passed in the state Legislature twice, then by voters at the ballot box.
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About Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin is a grassroots coalition that has developed a unique proposal to give victims of crime equal rights in our state, building on Wisconsin’s laws and history of leading on this issue. Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas has made it his life’s mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights.
Victims and supporters interested in sharing their stories can email [email protected].
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin can be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook.