Signatures Ready For “Victim’s Rights” Measure

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment that they believe will bolster the rights of crime victims in North Dakota say they have enough signatures to bring their proposal to a public vote in November.

Backers of the so-called Marsy's Law intend to turn in more than 27,000 signatures to the North Dakota Secretary of State's Office on Tuesday.

North Dakota and South Dakota are among several states where national victims' rights advocates are pushing the measure, now in effect in California and Illinois.

Groups representing North Dakota defense attorneys and prosecutors say changing the constitution to include the proposal is a bad idea and will have unintended consequences. They say North Dakota already has laws on the books that protect victims of violent crimes.