Tennessee Victims' Bill of Rights, Amendment 2 (1998)

Tennessee Amendment 2, also known as the Victims' Bill of Rights, was on the November 3, 1998 ballot in the state of Tennessee as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. a

Election results

Tennessee Victims' Bill of Rights, Amendment 2 (1998)
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		680,712	88.8%
No		85,565	11.2%

Text of measure

The language that appeared on the ballot:

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO.2

Shall the Tennessee Constitution be amended by adding as a new section to Article I the following language?

To preserve and protect the rights of victims of crime to justice and due process, victims shall be entitled to the following basic rights:

1. The right to confer with the prosecution.

2. The right to be free from intimidation, harassment and abuse throughout the criminal justice system.

3. The right to be present at all proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.

4. The right to be heard, when relevant, at all critical stages of the criminal justice process as defined by the General Assembly.

5. The right to be informed of all proceedings, and of the release, transfer or escape of the accused or convicted person.

6. The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence.

7. The right to restitution from the offender.

8. The tight to be infbnned of each of the tights established for victims.

The General Assembly has the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to define, implement, preserve and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section.

YES        ( )

NO          ( )

Constitutional changes

Amendment 2 added Article I, Section 35 to the Tennessee Constitution.

See also

Suggest a link

• Tennessee ballot measures
• Tennessee 1998 ballot measures
• 1998 ballot measures

Footnotes

• Election Results by County, Constitutional Amendments
• National Conference of State Legislatures Ballot Measures Database