CRIM 419 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Core Foundation
23 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
Marsy"s law was named after dr. nicholas" sister, marsalee (marsy) nicholas, a. University of california santa barbara student, who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only a week after marsy was murdered, dr. nicholas and marsy"s mother, mrs. Marcella leach, walked into a grocery store after visiting her daughter"s grave and was confronted by the accused murderer. She had no idea that he had been released on bail. This story is typical of the pain and suffering the family members of murder victims have endured. She was not informed because the courts and law enforcement, though well-meaning, had no obligation to keep her informed. While criminals have more than 20 individuals rights spelled out in the u. s. Constitution, the surviving family members of murder victims have none. Marsy"s law erodes the core foundation of the criminal justice system: that a prosecution is between the state and an accused citizen, not a contest between two private citizens.
