Benoit First Candidate in 37th Senate Race to Endorse Marcy's Law *

Assemblyman John J. Benoit is the first candidate in the 37th Senate race to endorse Marsy's Law: the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008. Benoit announced his support at a rally with the mother of Marsy-- a 21-year old college student murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1981-- and with various crime victims groups, Marsy's Law Campaign Chairman Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, and other Republican proponents on April 16 at the west steps of the State Capitol.

"Over a 31-year career in law enforcement, one of the saddest parts of the job was counseling and seeing the grief from families of crime victims who bore an incredible loss," said Assemblyman Benoit. "It's frustrating that, even today, victims continue to be denied basic rights of justice and due process. I hope you will join me in backing this crucial measure to reform our criminal justice system and give victims the rights and respect they deserve."

Marsy's Law is a measure that adds the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights to the California Constitution and gives victims of crime many of the same basic rights currently afforded to accused and convicted criminals. While this is a simple and basic policy change, it will provide far greater enforceable protections for victims throughout the criminal justice process and give victims of crime the voice they deserve in our justice system.

In addition to giving victims constitutionally protected rights, Marsy's Law also makes important changes to California's parole system. Currently, all prisoners, no matter what their crime, are eligible for a parole hearing each and every year. Marsy's Law changes this requirement by giving the Parole Board the flexibility to deny parole for convicted murderers for up to 5, 10, or 15 years.*