[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 66 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 66

  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to 
     establish and protect the rights of victims of violent crimes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 6, 2007

    Mr. Chabot introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to 
     establish and protect the rights of victims of violent crimes.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled   (two-thirds of each House 
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States 
within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification, 
and which shall take effect 180 days after ratification by the required 
number of States:

                              ``Article--

    ``Section 1. Without denying or abridging the constitutional rights 
of those accused of committing a violent crime, the rights of victims 
of violent crime are hereby established and shall not be denied by any 
State or the United States and may be restricted only as provided in 
this article.
    ``Section 2. A victim of violent crime shall have the right to 
reasonable and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the 
crime and of any release or escape of the accused; the right not to be 
excluded from such public proceeding; the right reasonably to be heard 
at public release, plea, sentencing, reprieve, and pardon proceedings; 
and the right to adjudicative decisions that duly consider the victim's 
safety, interest in avoiding unreasonable delay, and just and timely 
claims to restitution from the offender. These rights shall not be 
restricted except when, and to the degree dictated by, a substantial 
interest in public safety or the administration of criminal justice 
requires such restrictions, or by other compelling necessity.
    ``Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to provide 
grounds for a new trial or to authorize any claim for damages. Only the 
victim or the victim's lawful representative may assert the rights 
established by this article, and no person accused of the crime may 
obtain any form of relief hereunder.
    ``Section 4. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. Nothing in this article shall affect the 
President's authority to grant reprieves or pardons.''.
                                 <all>