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Department of Public Safety presents technical bill to strengthen victim-notification procedures; committee lays it over
Summary
The Office of Justice Programs sought technical changes to victim-notification rules, including judge inquiries when victims are not notified and expanded notice when offenses become eligible for automatic expungement; the committee laid the bill over and requested agency data.
ST. PAUL — The Department of Public Safety’s Office of Justice Programs presented an agency bill March 11 proposing technical changes to improve victims’ statutory notifications and protections in court proceedings.
Kim Bay Vine, executive director of the Office of Justice Programs, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the bill contains five provisions, including protections for minor victims, procedures to protect victim identity in some filings, and a proposal that would require judges to ask prosecutors whether victims received statutorily required notifications at plea and sentencing hearings.
The bill would also expand circumstances in which victims are notified if an offense becomes eligible for automatic expungement. Bay Vine said agency staff has heard that victims have not consistently received required notifications and offered to submit any supporting data the committee requests.
Suzanne Elwell, the Office’s crime victim-justice unit director, was present to provide specifics. Committee members asked staff for data and said they would lay the bill over for further consideration.
No final committee action was taken beyond laying the bill over and requesting additional information.
