Garden State Times

The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O'Scanlon that aims to expand victims' rights and enhance their participation in the criminal justice process. Senator O'Scanlon emphasized the importance of allowing victims to have a stronger voice in plea negotiations, stating, "When victims share their perspectives with prosecutors near the conclusion of plea negotiations, critical and relevant information may be missed and impact the outcome of the case."

The bill, known as S-1062, includes key components that amend the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. These components include providing victims with the opportunity to provide feedback to prosecuting authorities before the plea negotiation process begins, requiring the prosecuting authority to inform the court of the victim's position on the plea agreement, and allowing victims to receive timely incident reports in certain situations.

Senator O'Scanlon highlighted that engaging victims early in the process can lead to a more just legal system and increased accountability for perpetrators. He stated, "By engaging victims early on in the process, we can provide a greater opportunity to make their voices heard. This legislation would strengthen our legal system and hold more perpetrators accountable by expanding the rights that victims have in criminal prosecutions."

Moreover, the bill expands the definition of "victim" to include parents or legal guardians acting on behalf of minor victims, ensuring that their rights are also protected throughout the legal proceedings.

For those interested in reading the full text of the bill or discussing the legislation further, they are encouraged to reach out to Chris Sivel, SRO Deputy Director of Communications at [email protected].