    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 19, 1997]
    [Page 328]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997
    March 19, 1997

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 924, the ``Victim Rights
    Clarification Act of 1997,'' to ensure that victims of crime and their
    families will not be prevented from attending a criminal trial in
    Federal court simply because they intend to exercise their right to give
    a statement during a sentencing hearing, once guilt has been decided. I
    commend the Congress for responding to the initiative led by crime
    victims and their families, and by a bipartisan group of State attorneys
    general. As I have said before, when someone is a victim, he or she
    should be at the center of the criminal justice process, not on the
    outside looking in. The Act, of course, does not limit the courts'
    authority and obligation to protect the defendant's right to a fair
    trial under the due process clause.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    March 19, 1997.

    Note: H.R. 924, approved March 19, was assigned Public Law No. 105-6.
    This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 20.