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Proposition 9: Criminal justice system
Adam Murphy
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Voter's Guide
Proposition 9, also known as Marsy's Law, would enact a victim's bill of rights into the California Constitution. According to the Official Voter Information Guide, it would require notification to the victim and the opportunity for input during phases of the criminal justice process. It would also factor in victim safety when considering bail and parole. Proposition 9 could cost the state money, the voter guide states, because of increased costs for prison and county jail operations. The bill mirrors a proposition from 1982 that made many of the same provisions to state law.
Laura Power-Dixon, campaign manager for Yes on Prop. 9:
"People should vote for (Proposition 9) because, sadly, anyone anywhere can become a victim of crime, and victims of crime deserve equal justice in our system. They deserve to have constitutional rights like criminals in our justice system. Prop. 9 balances the playing field in our constitution, so crime victims have enforceable rights throughout the entire criminal justice process and have a right to be heard."
Lisa Murphy, an advocate of No on 10.
"The primary reason we oppose Prop. 9 is because the legislative analysts office said it would cost the state potentially hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and it does not provide any new revenues to pay for that, and it would require new taxes for that to come out of the state's general fund. The general fund funds public schools, fire protection and other things like that. It's really bad timing to ask taxpayers to put money into public safety when we are already seeing across-the-board cuts everywhere else."
Laura Power-Dixon, campaign manager for Yes on Prop. 9:
"People should vote for (Proposition 9) because, sadly, anyone anywhere can become a victim of crime, and victims of crime deserve equal justice in our system. They deserve to have constitutional rights like criminals in our justice system. Prop. 9 balances the playing field in our constitution, so crime victims have enforceable rights throughout the entire criminal justice process and have a right to be heard."
Lisa Murphy, an advocate of No on 10.
"The primary reason we oppose Prop. 9 is because the legislative analysts office said it would cost the state potentially hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and it does not provide any new revenues to pay for that, and it would require new taxes for that to come out of the state's general fund. The general fund funds public schools, fire protection and other things like that. It's really bad timing to ask taxpayers to put money into public safety when we are already seeing across-the-board cuts everywhere else."
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