[History of America's Victims' Rights Movement]
Dale Russakoff, "Out of Grief Comes a Legislative Force," The Washington Post, June 15, 1998.

Many laws have been passed in recent years in memory of the victims of violent crime; particularly young, white females. These laws have been a response to public outcry to keep others from experiencing the same horror. Such laws are often sponsored and supported by politicians seeking re-election and unopposed by others who realize that it would be political suicide. Many of these laws, it turns out, would not have prevented the particular crime that they have been proposed to eliminate. There are more than 30,000 victim-rights laws in the United States and only a few of them are named for individuals.

• Which serves the better purpose, 30,000 individual laws or one all-encompassing Victims' Rights Amendment?
• What is the danger behind the legislative "fad" of memorial laws?

[Victims' Rights Amendment]
Steven Forbes, "Rights for the Wronged," Forbes Magazine, August 23, 1999. page 25.

In an editorial comment, former Presidential candidate Steven Forbes argues the legitimacy and need for the Victims' Rights Amendment. Although 32 states have some type of VRA in their own constitutions, Forbes argues that a federal amendment would guarantee certain rights to all Americans affected by crime.

Among the rights that Forbes proposes are notification of judicial hearings; permission to attend public hearings concerning bail, plea bargaining and sentencing; notification of a criminal's release or escape; and restitution from convicted attackers.

• What is the importance of legislation protecting the rights of victims?
• In what ways would a federal law be better than individual state laws guaranteeing certain rights to the victims of crime?