COLUMN: Marsy’s Law is just as important today

By Jane Iwanowski

During my time as Portage Co. Victim Witness Coordinator, my position allowed me to assist and care for victims as we navigated their cases through the criminal justice system.

Working with victims facing the most difficult circumstances, it was important to handle each case with integrity and confidentiality while providing vital services through the legal process and their healing journey.

Along with my staff, we worked to support victims and survivors, providing information on Marsy’s Law, the Wisconsin Crime Victim constitutional amendment ratified on April 7, 2020. Marsy’s Law strengthened victims’ rights, affording them opportunities to participate in the legal process and have their voices heard throughout the judicial system.

With compassion and care, we ensured victims were aware of their rights, understood them, and opted into those rights.

Marsy’s Law established clear protections for crime victims, including the right to be notified of court proceedings, the right to attend court hearings, the right to address the court, the right to confer with prosecutors, and the right to restitution.

These rights are not symbolic gestures; they empower victims to actively participate in the pursuit of justice.

Marsy’s Law represents a monumental step forward for survivors in Wisconsin. With sincere gratitude, I thank all the stakeholders across the state who assist victims in enforcing their rights.

This collaboration is key to effectively implementing Marsy’s Law and ensuring victims are supported through the judicial system, their voices heard, and treated with the dignity, courtesy, and respect they deserve.

Jane Iwanowski currently serves as executive assistant to the Portage County Executive. She spent a decade working as the county’s victim witness coordinator and wrote this column using the expertise she obtained in that role.