Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma Launches Digital Campaign Featuring Crime Victims and Advocates

OKLAHOMA CITY – Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma and the Yes on State Question 794 campaign today launched a series of social media videos highlighting support from crime victims and advocates for SQ 794, a provision on the November 6 ballot. If passed, an enhanced set of crime victims’ rights would be added to the Oklahoma Constitution.

The crime victims and survivors appearing in the videos share their personal stories and explain how the criminal justice system revictimized them by ignoring or silencing them. Advocates who work with survivors also explain how the current system can be traumatizing to victims who are not consulted or informed of important developments in their own cases.   

The first set of videos include stories from:

• Angela Wiles, who had to fight for her voice to be heard in court when her 14-year old daughter was murdered;
• Jodi Lopresto, who was almost killed when an intoxicated driver hit her and was never informed when the driver was released from prison.
• Angela Beatty, senior director of Domestic Violence Victims Services of the YWCA of Oklahoma City, who argues that victims need the same rights as accused criminals in the justice system; and
• David Hall, a child welfare advocate who explains how SQ 794 will provide basic support and rights to victims and their families.

Kim Moyer, executive director of Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma and the campaign to support SQ 794, said that she has met dozens of victims with stories like the ones being shared in the new videos.

“Since we began this campaign to support crime victims, we have been inundated with stories from survivors and the families of victims about how the criminal justice system failed or ignored them,” said Moyer. “That includes survivors whose attackers have been released from prison with no notice, parents who felt completely ignored and voiceless after their child was murdered, and many victims who simply were unable to keep up with a complicated calendar of court dates and hearings without any assistance. All of these individuals would benefit from State Question 794, which would finally deliver them the Constitutional rights they need and deserve.”

Some of the constitutional-level rights guaranteed to victims and their families by State Question 794 include:

• The right to have standing in court
• The right to present at all proceedings involving the case
• The right to reasonable and timely notice of proceedings
• The right to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated including release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, revocation, expungement or pardon
• The right to timely notice of any release, escape or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death
• The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay
• The right to timely information about the outcome of the case

The new social media campaign coincides with a substantial statewide broadcast, cable and digital advertising campaign encouraging Oklahomans to vote in favor of State Question 794.  

For more information, visit www.yesonsq794.com.

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