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Three legislators stand up for crime victims
In an effort to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, three state legislators are urging Oregonians to support two critical measures in the May 20th Primary Election. “Ballot Measure 51 and Measure 52 will help make the rights we have in the Oregon Constitution workable and enforceable,” said State Representative Linda Flores (R-Clackamas). Flores and State Representatives Kim Thatcher (R-Kiezer, Newberg, St. Paul) and Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver), are the only legislators to go the extra mile for crime victims in the State Voters’ Pamphlet. They submitted an argument in support of the two measures, which were referred to the ballot by the 2007 legislative assembly. The Voters’ Pamphlet will be mailed to households next week and is on line at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/voterresources.html. Victims’ advocates from all over the state, including District Attorneys, law enforcement, judges and volunteers, held a ceremony for the annual Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Salem in mid-April, 2008. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Crime Victims’ Assistance program at the Oregon Department of Justice. This year’s theme was “Justice for Victims, Justice For All.” “We not only want justice for victims,” said Thatcher, “but we also need to ensure victims can exercise their rights in the courtroom and the criminal justice system as a whole.” In their argument in support of Measures 51 and 52, the three wrote: “We’re talking about a victim’s right to be protected from harm and be involved in the court process, to participate in plea bargains, and to get restitution.” Steve Doell, President of Crime Victims United of Oregon, explained, “Some politicians promote public safety and victims’ rights only at election time. These three legislators speak up for victims all the time.” Flores, Thatcher and Whisnant have all served on the House Judiciary Committee and been instrumental in recent anti-crime legislative issues. Representative Flores pushed hard for legislation to allow the two ballot measures to take effect immediately after the May Primary but the idea was rejected by leaders in the February 2008 Special Session. Thatcher spent the past two years trying to reform the Department of Correction’s early release program to ensure ‘truth in sentencing’ for violent felons. Whisnant has been leading the effort to crack down on meth dealers and property offenders. The Voters’ Pamphlet argument submitted by Flores, Thatcher and Whisnant summed it up best: “Crime victims deserve our respect and the best our state laws can provide.”  |
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