Marsy’s Law Oklahoma prepares for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 19-25

Jesse Butler hearings show Marsy’s Law in action in Oklahoma

Marsy’s Law Oklahoma joins victims’ rights organizations across the state and nation during the week of April 19-25 for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) in a collective effort to confront and remove barriers to achieve justice for all victims of crime.

This year’s NCVRW is preceded in Oklahoma by court hearings in Payne County on April 13-14 regarding Marsy’s Law rights violations in the high-profile Jesse Butler case.

“The hearings are a great example of ensuring Marsy’s Law and victims’ rights are protected and enforced. Those include the right to be notified of public hearings and the right to confer with prosecutors,” said Kim Moyer, state director for Marsy’s Law Oklahoma. “Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly passed Marsy’s Law for this very reason.”

NCVRW was established in 1981 by the U.S. Dept. of Justice Office for Victims of Crime to increase awareness and highlight victims’ rights resources. This year’s NCVRW theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”

The City of Oklahoma City will light the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory and the Skydance Bridge purple on Monday, April 20, in recognition of NCVRW. Additional related events and NCVRW observances will be announced in the coming weeks.

Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma, along with its advisory board members, joins advocates statewide in raising awareness on the daily challenges facing crime victims while recognizing the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement. The group will highlight constitutional rights and available resources, recognizing those who serve in guiding and protecting survivors and remembering the lives and loved ones taken by crime.

Members of the Marsy’s Law for Oklahoma advisory board include: Jacintha Webster (Ada), Angela Wiles (Duncan), Jennifer Hardin (Edmond), Ann Lowrance (Norman), Darcie Parton-Scoon (OKC), Maria Rosales-Lambert (OKC), Sarah Burdine (OKC), Ben Crockett (Stillwater), Samantha Moran (Stillwater), Karen Gilbert (Tulsa), Sheri Farmer (Tulsa), Lezley Bell (Weatherford), and Rebecca Cunningham (Yukon).

Marsy’s Law Oklahoma is a statewide organization that led local efforts in 2018 to add an amendment to the state constitution which guarantees crime victims specific rights throughout the criminal justice process, including: fair treatment and respect; protection from the defendant; to be informed of and attend all public proceedings such as plea deals, sentencing and parole decisions; and to express their views at the proceedings.