‘It’s time’: Push to pass Marsy’s Law in Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A potential constitutional amendment that would give Tennessee crime victims new rights has passed the first of a few hurdles.
Marsy’s Law is a national initiative that aims to create legislation that guarantees protected rights for crime victims and their families. The measure would give victims constitutional protections such as the right to be heard, informed, and treated with fairness, dignity, and respect during the judicial process.
The law started in California in honor of Marsy Nicholas, who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Just a week after the tragedy, Marsy’s mother, Marcella, was confronted by her daughter’s murderer in a grocery store. Since law enforcement isn’t obligated to report to victim families, Marcella would find out in that moment that her daughter’s murderer was already out on bail. According to the Marsy’s Law website, those accused of crimes have more than 20 individual rights spelled out in the U.S. Constitution while the surviving family members of murder victims have none.
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The Tennessee House and Senate passed resolutions, making some headway toward it becoming an official constitutional amendment. The resolution is set to return to the General Assembly in 2025 and 2026. If passed, it will then be up to voters to decide whether it will be part of the state’s constitution in 2026.
“We haven’t had a victim’s rights constitutional amendment since 1998, so it’s been over 25 years,” said Bonnie Benzina, state director of Marsy’s Law for Tennessee. “I think it’s time for Tennessee to put some teeth behind the previous 1998 bill. It was a huge victory for the pro-victim movement back then, but to ensure that the victim’s rights are legally enforced and upheld, we’ve got to have Marsy’s Law because it’s a guarantee.”
Benzina said the positive traction she’s seen so far gives her team the momentum to keep pushing forward in the fight for stronger victim rights in the Volunteer State.
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“It just brings awareness and it brings advocacy,” Benzina said. “You need to be aware and we need to show support.”
There are currently 13 states that have passed Marsy’s Law, including our neighbors to the north in Kentucky. Tennessee is one of six other states where efforts are in the works to get that legislation passed.
To learn more about Marsy’s Law for Tennessee, click here.
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