Kentucky Statutes 421.576 – Kentucky Crime Victim Bill of Rights as short title for KRS 421.500 to 421.575 — Application — Construction
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(1) In order to establish the minimum conduct of criminal justice professionals with respect to crime victims and to communicate the intent of the General Assembly that victims of crime play an integral role in the criminal justice process, KRS
421.500 to 421.575 is hereby named the Kentucky Crime Victim Bill of Rights.
(2) The rights established by KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575 shall apply in all felony and misdemeanor proceedings in a District or Circuit Court of the Commonwealth.
(3) Nothing in KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575 shall provide grounds for the victim to challenge a charging decision or a conviction, to obtain a stay of trial, or to compel a new trial. Law enforcement agencies, county attorneys, and Commonwealth’s attorneys and courts shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that victims of crime receive the benefits of the rights set out in KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575.
Effective: November 3, 2020
History: Repealed and reenacted 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 1, effective November 3,
2020. — Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 606, sec. 39, effective July 15, 1998.
Legislative Research Commission Note (11/3/2020). 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 8, provides that the repeal and reenactment of this statute in Section 1 of that Act “shall take effect only upon the ratification, in the general election of November 3, 2020, of a Constitutional amendment providing for the protection of crime victims’ rights. If such an amendment is not ratified, this Act shall be void. The proposed amendment was ratified, effective November 3, 2020, becoming Kentucky Constitution Section
26A.”
Legislative Research Commission Note (6/13/2019). 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 8, provides that the repeal and reenactment of this statute in that Act “shall take effect only upon the ratification, in the general election of November 6, 2018, of a Constitutional amendment providing for the protection of crime victims’ rights. If such an amendment is not ratified, this Act shall be void.” On June 13, 2019, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the language of the proposed amendment was not properly submitted to the voters at that election and, therefore, its ratification was void under Section 256 of the Kentucky Constitution. Consequently, the repeal and reenactment of this statute in 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, was not given effect.
421.500 to 421.575 is hereby named the Kentucky Crime Victim Bill of Rights.
Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 421.576
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) The rights established by KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575 shall apply in all felony and misdemeanor proceedings in a District or Circuit Court of the Commonwealth.
(3) Nothing in KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575 shall provide grounds for the victim to challenge a charging decision or a conviction, to obtain a stay of trial, or to compel a new trial. Law enforcement agencies, county attorneys, and Commonwealth’s attorneys and courts shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that victims of crime receive the benefits of the rights set out in KRS § 421.500 to KRS § 421.575.
Effective: November 3, 2020
History: Repealed and reenacted 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 1, effective November 3,
2020. — Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 606, sec. 39, effective July 15, 1998.
Legislative Research Commission Note (11/3/2020). 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 8, provides that the repeal and reenactment of this statute in Section 1 of that Act “shall take effect only upon the ratification, in the general election of November 3, 2020, of a Constitutional amendment providing for the protection of crime victims’ rights. If such an amendment is not ratified, this Act shall be void. The proposed amendment was ratified, effective November 3, 2020, becoming Kentucky Constitution Section
26A.”
Legislative Research Commission Note (6/13/2019). 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 8, provides that the repeal and reenactment of this statute in that Act “shall take effect only upon the ratification, in the general election of November 6, 2018, of a Constitutional amendment providing for the protection of crime victims’ rights. If such an amendment is not ratified, this Act shall be void.” On June 13, 2019, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the language of the proposed amendment was not properly submitted to the voters at that election and, therefore, its ratification was void under Section 256 of the Kentucky Constitution. Consequently, the repeal and reenactment of this statute in 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 19, sec. 1, was not given effect.