Celebrating One Year of Marsy's Law in Action

April 02, 2021

On April 7, 2020, the residents of Wisconsin overwhelmingly approved the state's new crime victims' constitutional amendment, providing strong, enforceable rights for victims of crime. An incredible 75 percent of Wisconsin voters and all 72 of Wisconsin counties voted yes on Marsy’s Law. Now, we're celebrating the real positive impact that Wisconsin has already seen after one year of Marsy's Law in action.

The successful vote was a culmination of nearly four years of hard work by the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin team and its supporters in the Legislature, the victim advocate community and law enforcement. After a lengthy and rigorous vetting process in the Legislature, the amendment passed in 2017 and 2019 with 87 percent of lawmakers voting yes. Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin was endorsed by over 400 criminal justice system stakeholders including victim service agencies, community groups, district attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs.

Since it’s been in effect, Marsy’s Law has provided victims with a stronger voice to make sure they are no longer treated as uninterested observers in the courtroom. Some examples of Marsy’s Law at work that have made it into the news are highlighted below!

News Coverage:

Just days after Marsy’s Law went into effect last May, a Kenosha County victim of sexual assault and attempted homicide was able to exercise her new right to be heard in court at a bond hearing to ask the judge not to grant her attacker the release he was seeking.
In a high-profile Waukesha County sexual assault case, the new amendment allowed the victim to assert her right to be present at sentencing.
Marsy’s Law allowed a grieving family from Rock County to protect their privacy as they spoke at the sentencing hearing for a man who shot and killed their loved one.
The mother of young murder victim was able to exercise her right to be heard in a Dane County courtroom to express concern over a plea deal.
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Praises Appeals Court Decision Upholding Victims’ Rights to be Heard: A Waupaca County victim of sexual assault is being allowed make arguments in court objecting to his private medical and mental health records being entered into his accused abuser’s trial.
Marsy's Law at Work in Green County: A grandmother of a murdered newborn in Green County was able to petition the court to keep the confessed killer of her granddaughter in custody for the safety of her family.
In a Columbia County case, a murdered woman’s family has been able to protect the victim’s identity from being made public by exercising their right to privacy.

Letters to the Editor:

Kenosha News Letter to the Editor - Sen. Wanggaard: Marsy's law allows victims to protect medical privacy
Cap Times Letter to the Editor - Veronica Figueroa-Velez: Marsy's Law offers tools to strengthen survivors
Baraboo News Republic Letter to the Editor - Advocate Stacy Jax: Marsy's Law offers crime victims strong rights
Waushara Argus Letter to the Editor - ASTOP Legal Advocate, Jessica Bielmeier: Marsy’s Law passed in Wisconsin
Door County Pulse Coordinated Community Response: Marsy’s Law, Strengthening Crime Victims’ Rights
Madison.com Letter to the Editor - Supporter Jaime Lynch Dowd: Honor first year of Marsy's Law

Each and every day, Marsy’s Law is helping Wisconsin’s crime victims as they navigate a criminal justice system that they've been thrown into through no fault of their own.

One year later, Marsy’s Law is working for Wisconsin!

We hope you'll join us in recognizing this important milestone for victims' rights in Wisconsin! Feel free to share the links above, and check out our media kit for shareable images that you can use on your own social media accounts to join us in a digital celebration of one year of Marsy's Law in action.

Media Kit

Sample Posts:

Check out some sample posts for your own recognition of National Crime Victims' Rights Week!

This year we are celebrating one year of Marsy's Law in action! Last April, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved Marsy's Law for Wisconsin, ensuring equal rights for Wisconsin crime victims. #MLWI
This April we celebrate one year of Marsy's Law in action! It's the perfect time to thank the 1.1 million Wisconsin residents who, one year ago this April, voted overwhelmingly in favor of strengthening the rights of Wisconsin crime victims! #MLWI
In the one year it’s been in effect, Marsy’s Law has provided victims with a stronger voice to make sure they are no longer treated as uninterested observers in the courtroom. See what's been accomplished after a year of Marsy's Law in action:
https://www.equalrightsforwi.com/celebrating_one_year_of_marsy_s_law_in_action
"With Marsy's Law for Wisconsin in place, we now have more tools than ever to strengthen survivors while holding systems accountable." See a great account of the positive impact of one year of Marsy's Law in action from victim advocate, Veronica: https://madison.com/ct/opinion/mailbag/veronica-figueroa-velez-marsys-law-offers-tools-to-strengthen-survivors/article_45107251-9f0b-5223-abd4-739e89affda9.html

"Marsy’s Law has helped provide a foundation for victims and advocates alike to help ensure that victims have the protections they need." Learn more about how Marsy's Law has helped Jessica advocate for victims after one year in action: https://www.wausharaargus.com/letters-editor/marsys-law-passed-wisconsin
Thanks to Marsy's Law, Wisconsin crime victims recently won a major victory for medical privacy. It's just one example of the positive impact of one year of Marsy's Law in action. Read more in this letter to the editor from #MLWI author @Vanwanggaard: https://www.kenoshanews.com/opinion/local_columnists/sen-wanggaard-marsys-law-allows-victims-to-protect-medical-privacy/article_d73ad82d-5fdb-5114-9654-b9c53222cdd6.html