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Welcome to IllinoisVictims.org, Illinois’ grassroots victims rights organization, sharing information and resources for victims of violent crime, advocating for public safety and the enforcement of our Constitutionally guaranteed victims rights.

Join Crime Victims and Victim Advocates as we make history in Illinois! Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment that would make victims rights enforceable in Illinois, passed both the House and Senate in different forms this year, and was one vote away from being on the 2012 ballot. We will not rest until we have joined the rest of the nation with enforcement mechanisms for our rights. Illinois is the ONLY state in the nation that constitutionally bars enforcement of the rights of crime victims. Please join us in our campaign for the next legislative session. Contact IllinoisVictims@gmail.com or call 312-882-4584 for more information. And visit www.MarsysLawforIllinois.org for much more information and to join the team!

There is no remedy in Illinois when a victim’s rights are violated. This constitutional amendment is supported by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), and many other state leaders, community organizations, and law enforcement.

House Votes 116-2 in Favor of Marsy’s Law for Illinois, Which Would Protect Safety of Crime Victims and Ensure They Are Informed About Court Proceedings Involving Their Attackers

Springfield, IL – The Illinois House overwhelmingly voted 116-2 in favor of Marsy’s Law for Illinois, a constitutional amendment that would provide victims of crime with enforceable legal rights that will protect their safety and ensure they are aware of their attackers’ whereabouts.  Currently, crime victims have legal rights under Illinois law, but they are not enforceable.

For example, victims are guaranteed the right to be informed of court proceedings, but some victims never learn about hearings until after the fact; victims are guaranteed the right to be present at trials and hearings about their case, but many are excluded from the process; and victims are guaranteed the right to present a written statement to the court about the impact of the violent crime on them, but many have been denied the opportunity. Marsy’s Law for Illinois, sponsored by Representative Lou Lang, would make the laws enforceable by giving crime victims the right to go to court and ask that the right they were denied be enforced.

Lang, who introduced Marsy’s Law for Illinois, also known as HJRCA 29, stated, “Today, crime victims are one step closer to having the common sense legal rights they deserve.  Victims should feel safe in their own community and be informed about cases involving their attackers.  I am pleased that my House colleagues agree.”

Other states, including California, Arizona and Oregon recently passed similar constitutional amendments making victims’ rights enforceable.  The California amendment, the original Marsy’s Law amendment, was passed in 2008 and requires law enforcement agencies to read victims their “Marsy Rights” just as the accused are read their “Miranda Rights.”  In 2004, Congress passed the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, providing victims of federal crimes extensive rights and means of redress if those rights are violated.  Illinois is behind nationally in ensuring crime victims’ rights are enforceable.

“Innocent victims of crime deserve every possible protection,” said Attorney General Lisa Madigan. “This amendment will guarantee that victims have not just a voice in the criminal justice system, but enforceable rights.”

Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, Director of Marsy’s Law for Illinois, said “We applaud the Illinois House members for standing up for victims of crimes and their families.  The aftermath of a violent crime is an extremely traumatic experience, especially when victims fear for their safety around their own neighborhood.   This amendment would ensure that victims and their families are informed about legal proceedings and the whereabouts of criminal offenders and we are grateful that House members support those rights.”

Marsy’s Law for Illinois would give crime victims the right to:

• be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse;
• refuse to disclose information that is privileged or confidential by law;
• timely notification of post-trial proceedings;
• be heard in person or in any other reasonable manner the victim chooses at any proceeding involving a post-arraignment release decision, plea, sentencing, post-conviction or post-adjudication release decision, or any proceeding in which a right of the victim is at issue;
• receive a report prepared for sentencing, reduction in sentence, parole, early release, or clemency, when available to the accused; and
• have the safety of the victim and the victim’s family considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail, determining whether to release the defendant, and setting conditions of release after arrest and conviction.

The Coalition for Enforceable Victims Rights Brings Marsy’s Law to Illinois

Illinois’ Constitution has guaranteed victims rights since 1992. But unfortunate wording denied victims a remedy if their rights were violated. Other states nationally have moved to protect the enforceability of victims rights. We are working together with other victim and interested Illinois groups to pass MARSY’S LAW for enforceable victims rights. We are part of the Illinois Coalition for Enforceable Victims Rights to pass HJRCA 29, providing a remedy for victims whose rights have been violated.

Download a Fact Sheet on the legislation. And read our response to erroneous concerns expressed about the legislation in the Sun-Times.  Contact your legislator and urge them to support the Illinois Constitutional Amendment for Enforceable Victims Rights, HJRCA 29 – “Marsy’s Law”. Contact us at llinoisVictims@gmail.com if you are willing to help us work to pass this important reform to make REAL the rights of Illinois’ crime victims.

A billboard at the corner of Sheridan Road and Loucks Avenue in Peoria, Illinois promotes the Sept. 25 Day of Remembrance event. Event organizer and IllinoisVictims.Org Board Member Yolanda Wallace reached out to members of the community who have lost someone through violence or other tragedy to submit a photo of their loved one for the billboard.

News and Events

Mother’s Day – Sunday May 13, 2012, 10 am. St Sabina’s Parish will host an event honoring Mothers who lost their Sons & Daughters to Violence. Bring your Sons and Daughters pictures to put Faces on this Violence Epidemic. Location: Saint Sabina Church, In front of the Youth Memorial Wall at 78th & Racine, Chicago. Purpose Over Pain And St. Sabina – We will be acknowledging All murdered youth on this day. RSVP with Charlene Davis at <chdavis2913gmail.com> or call 708-733-2663 before 5/12/2012

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5187 creating “National Correctional Officers’ Week.” For every year since, the first full week in May
has been recognized as National Correctional Officers’ Week to honor the work of
correctional officers and other correctional personnel nationwide.

Correctional personnel work under demanding circumstances and face danger
daily. To recognize the contributions made by the men and women who work in
jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country, see the
Correctional Officers’ Week Special Feature, which is a compilation of resources related to
correctional facilities and their staff.

Summer national victim conferences all over the USA are available for victims to attend and grow and connect to partners all over the nation. Please see our events page, which includes many conferences at which IllinoisVictims.org board members are speaking at.

It has been 6 years since the unsolved murder of Terrell Bosley, son of Pam and Tommy Bosley of IllinoisVictims.org. Please help bring justice for Terrell and this family. Download the flyer and spread the word in Chicago.

Support Parole and Proabtion Officers in Illinois – “like” their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SaveIllinoisParolePreservePublicSafety

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has put out a special publication discussing the importance of victims and victims rights.

The “Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance” have just been published.  The Guidelines establish policy and provide guidance to be followed by U.S. Department of Justice personnel in their interactions with crime victims and witnesses. The revised guidelines have been updated to reflect best practices and integrate new case law.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics has just released “Criminal Victimization 2010,” – the most recent year for which statistics are completed – which found that violent crime decreased 13 percent in 2010, and property crime decreased six percent.  And 50 percent of violent crime and 40 percent of property crimes aren’t reported to police.  You’ll want to check out these and other crime data!

MADD’s Spring edition of the MADDvocate is now available, and features  a summary of MADD’s “Report to the Nation” on each state’s efforts to eliminate drunk driving, and a great article on death notification (among other highlights).  You can download the MADDvocate at http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9de38fee#/9de38fee/1.

The American Probation and Parole Association has just
published its Resource Kit for 2012 Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week, planned for July 15 to 21. The Kit includes a section on “victim issues,” and victims and victim advocates can coordinate with community corrections, reentry and justice reinvestment colleagues on how to promote victims’ interests during this week.  You can download the APPA Resource Kit at http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/Resources/PPCSW_12/.

The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics report on statistical tables of Criminal Victimization in the United States BJS has also just published an astonishing report that found that between 1993 and 2009, only nine percent of serious violent crime victims received assistance from a victim service agency.  This 16-page report is a serious wakeup call to our nation!

Top Illinois Victim groups and national victim legal groups file amicus brief in state Supreme Court challenge vital to the privacy of victims of sexual assault.

Ex-Chicago Bear is nationally recognized for his work as a Victim Advocate

St. Sabina’s Parish in Chicago debuts a permanent memorial for homicide victims. To be included please email your loved one’s picture along with their DOB/DOD to pbosley@thearkofstsabina.org. For more information call Pam 773-744-6144

At the national level, we’ve submitted language to the Platform Committees of the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee to ensure that victim/survivor issues are included in each Party’s National Platform.

The National Governors Association has released guidelines for public safety during tight budget times. Victims are concerned with early release of violent offenders from prison simply because of budgetary pressures.

State Governments collaborated to create these guiding principles for the treatment of all crime victims.

Making restitution real: Released by National Center for Victims of Crime
For varied reasons, jurisdictions throughout the United States have a poor record of collecting court-ordered restitution from offenders. Uncollected criminal debt at the federal level totals more than $50 billion, most of which is restitution owed to individuals and others harmed by defendants. State-level restitution collection is equally disappointing, especially in Illinois.

The Sheila A. Doyle Foundation seeks partners in helping children of murder victims to attend the Illinois-based Comfort Zone Camp for grieving children, ages 7-17. The foundation generates scholarships for children of homicide for their education.

Support the many wonderful upcoming events in support of our fallen law enforcement heroes and their families – Illinois COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors)

One of the state’s great victims rights advocates is remembered by Senator Toi Hutchinson