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RESOLUTION R-1718-104: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR STATE QUESTION 794 (SQ 794), ALSO KNOWN AS MARSY'S LAW FOR OKLAHOMA, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION PROPOSING EXPANSION OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS, REQUIRING CRIME VICTIMS TO BE INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHTS, AND REQUIRING COURTS TO ENFORCE THESE RIGHTS; AND URGING ALL REGISTERED VOTERS WITHIN THE CITY OF NORMAN TO CONSIDER THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF NORMAN RESIDENTS AND TO VOTE ON STATE QUESTION 794 ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018.
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BACKROUND: In 1983 Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in California in 1983. Days after the murder, the accused killer, who would later be convicted of second-degree murder, was out on bail and confronted Marsy's mother and brother at a grocery store. At that time, the family wasn't aware the accused had been released. Marsy's brother, Henry Nicholas, made it his personal mission to require that crime victims receive notification of similar decisions and other rights promoted by Marsy's Law. Mr. Nicholas founded Marsy's Law for All in 2009, whose goal is to add victims' rights to all state constitutions that currently lack them and eventually secure an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Oklahoma Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 46 on March 21, 2017, which authorized a state wide vote amending Section 34 of Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The proposed amendment, known as State Question 794 (SQ 794), will be on the ballot on November 6, 2018. This item was requested by Council to given them an opportunity to determine whether a majority of Council would like to formally support the ballot measure.
DISCUSSION: SQ 794 expands rights of crime victims, requires crime victims to be informed of their rights, and requires courts to enforce these rights. The amendment would both reinforce and extend the rights of all crime victims to certain tre...
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