Connecticut Question 1, Victims' Rights Amendment (1996)

Connecticut Question 1
Election date November 5, 1996
Topic Crime victims' rights
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Connecticut Question 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Connecticut on November 5, 1996. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported amending the Connecticut Constitution to provide victims of crime with specific rights, such as: the right to restitution; the right to attend the trial and all court sessions; and the right to speak at the sentencing.

A "no" vote opposed amending the Connecticut Constitution to provide victims of crime with specific rights, such as: the right to restitution; the right to attend the trial and all court sessions; and the right to speak at the sentencing.

Election results

Connecticut Question 1
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		656,223	78.49%
No		179,882	21.51%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

The constitutional amendment granted the following rights to victims of crime:

• the right to be treated with fairness and respect throughout the criminal justice process;
• the right to timely disposition of the case;
• the right to be reasonably protected from the accused;
• the right to notification of court proceedings;
• the right to attend the trial and all court sessions;
• the right to communicate with the prosecution;
• the right to object to any plea bargains;
• the right to speak at the sentencing;
• the right to restitution;
• and the right to information about the arrest, conviction, sentencing, imprisonment and release of the criminal.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:

“

Shall The Constitution of the State be amended to provide certain rights to victims of crime?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Connecticut Constitution

In Connecticut, a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot after one legislative session or two legislative sessions depending on the vote count.

When an amendment receives a 75% vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment goes on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 114 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 27 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies.

When an amendment receives a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment must pass during two successive legislative sessions to go on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 76 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 19 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies.

Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1996 Measures

• 1996 Measures
• Crime victims' rights on the ballot
• 1996 legislative sessions

Connecticut

• Connecticut ballot measures
• Connecticut ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Connecticut Ballot Question Election Results Archive