Marsy's Law In Simple English

The California Constitution gives crime victims certain rights. These rights include:

1. Being treated fairly and with respect for your privacy and dignity. Being free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout the criminal or juvenile justice process.
2. Being reasonably protected from the defendant and people acting on their behalf.
3. Having your safety and your family's safety considered when setting the defendant's bail and release conditions.
4. Preventing the sharing of your confidential information or records with the defendant, their attorney, or anyone else acting on their behalf. This includes information that could be used to find or harass you or your family, private communications made during medical or counseling treatment, or anything else that is confidential or privileged by law.
5. Refusing an interview, deposition, or discovery request from the defendant, their attorney, or anyone else acting on their behalf. Setting reasonable conditions on any interview you agree to.
6. Getting reasonable notice of the defendant's arrest (if known by the prosecutor), the charges filed, and the decision to extradite the defendant. Conferring with the prosecuting agency about these matters upon request. Being notified and informed of any pretrial decisions in the case, if requested.
7. Receiving reasonable notice of all public proceedings, including delinquency proceedings, where the defendant and prosecutor have the right to be present. This also includes parole or other post-conviction release proceedings. The right to attend all such proceedings.
8. The right to be heard at any proceeding involving post-arrest release, plea, sentencing, post-conviction release, or any proceeding where your rights as a victim are at issue. This includes delinquency proceedings.
9. The right to a speedy trial and a prompt and final conclusion of the case and any related post-judgment proceedings.
10. Providing information to a probation official about how the crime impacted you and your family, and any sentencing recommendations, before the defendant is sentenced.
11. Receiving the pre-sentence report when it's available to the defendant, except for confidential portions, if requested.
12. Being informed of the conviction, sentence, place and time of incarceration or other disposition of the defendant, their scheduled release date, and their release or escape from custody, upon request.
13. The absolute right to seek and secure restitution from the convicted criminals who caused your losses. Restitution must be ordered in every case where you suffer a loss, regardless of the sentence or disposition. All payments and property collected from the offender ordered to pay restitution must first be used to pay the amount due to you.
14. Getting your property back promptly when it's no longer needed as evidence.
15. Being informed of parole procedures, participating in the parole process, giving information to be considered before the offender is paroled, and being notified of their parole or release, if requested.
16. Having your safety, your family's safety, and the public's safety considered before any parole or post-judgment release decision is made.
17. Being informed of the rights listed in items 1 through 16.