South Carolina Referendum 1A, the Victims' Rights Act (1996)

South Carolina Referendum 1A, also known as the Victims' Rights Act, was on the November 5, 1996 ballot in South Carolina as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved.

Referendum 1A amended Article I of the South Carolina Constitution to incorporate a provision that crime victims "shall have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process."

Election results

Referendum 1A
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		882,869	88.83%
No		111,001	11.17%

Ballot text

Question

	Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of rights under the state's Constitution be amended so as to add the "Victims' Bill of Rights' which provides that a crime victim shall have the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process?"

Official summary

Crime victims by this amendment for the first time are given a constitutional right to be kept informed or criminal proceedings, a constitutional right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, a constitutional right to obtain restitution when legally possible, and a constitutional right to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse throughout the criminal juvenile justice process. Violations of these rights can be corrected by asking judges for orders directing appropriate officials to fulfill their duties as required by this amendment.

See also

• South Carolina 1996 ballot measures

External links

• South Carolina election returns and ballot questions (Look for "General 1996" in the drop-down menu)