Marsy’s Law For Wisconsin, Wisconsin Chiefs Of Police Association Partner for Annual Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2018
Contact: Myranda Tanck
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association Partner for Annual Conference
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin partners with the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and Wisconsin Police Leadership Foundation for Winter Training Conference
MADISON – This week, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin partnered with the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and Wisconsin Police Leadership Foundation for the organizations’ Winter Training Conference. Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin was proud to sponsor the event banquet which included a special address from guest speaker Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe & Sound Schools: A Sandy Hook Initiative. The event is one in a series of Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin’s recent partnerships with major statewide law enforcement organizations, including the recent Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Conference.
“I’m honored to have been able to attend this great event and speak with Chiefs of Police from all over Wisconsin about the crime victims that they encounter in the line of duty,” said Luke Martz, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin State Director. “The support of Wisconsin’s law enforcement community has been crucial in our effort to update the Wisconsin Constitution to ensure equal rights for crime victims, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to come together to discus our shared goal of turning victims into survivors.”
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin last year announced the endorsement of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association among an impressive list of supporters from the state’s prominent law enforcement organizations. Said Chief Chris Domagalski, 2017 President of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association: “Police chiefs and the officers who work with them know what crime does to our communities – they see it every day. One of law enforcement’s most important duties is to protect victims of crime, and the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association is proud to support Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin’s fight for equal rights.” Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin recently announced that the organization had earned the endorsement of more than 100 Chiefs of Police from communities across Wisconsin.
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). With broad support from lawmakers of both parties, the legislation passed through the State Senate and Assembly in 2017, and will now move forward to second consideration in the next legislative session.
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You can 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 strengthen other rights that are already part of the Constitution.
- 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.
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.