Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that will allow victims and family in juvenile court proceedings to openly discuss information from court.

Highlights:

• Specifies that victims have the right to be present at all court proceedings when practical (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes the district attorney to consult the victim or designated member of the victims family in the case of serious offenses including murder or grievous injury (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the victim’s family can include sibling, the spouse, child, stepchild, sibling, parent, grandparent, guardian, legal custodian, or legal representative of the victim (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this article does not exclude the following people from being witness’s on the stand (Sec. 1): 

• A party who is a natural person; 

• A single officer or employee who is designated a case officer in lieu of a natural person by its attorney 

• A person whose presence is essential to the case 

• The victim of the offense. 

• Specifies that a court may impose sanctions if its exclusion order is violated which includes contempt of the court and may then disqualify a witness (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text