Madison, WI – Victim advocates, lawmakers, and others are celebrating today the fifth anniversary of the ratification vote for Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law. During the April 7, 2020 election, voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment with 75 percent of the vote – amounting to 1.1 million Wisconsin residents showing their commitment to strengthening the rights and support for victims of crime. The anniversary comes during the 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week commemoration.
“Marsy’s Law has been a game changer for crime victims in Wisconsin,” said Dana Pallebon, executive director of the Rape Crisis Center. “Crime victims are no longer treated as uninterested observers in their case. Instead, their voices are being recognized and heard throughout the criminal justice system.”
Marsy’s Law grants crime victims 16 specific rights, including the rights to be notified, to be present, to be heard, and to privacy. Marsy’s Law also requires victims to be treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, sensitivity, and fairness.
Senator Van Wanggaard, a former police officer and the Senate lead author of the amendment, expressed, “Witnessing the continued success of Marsy’s Law is a point of pride for me, and I’m grateful survivors can access these rights if the moment comes. The overwhelming approval it received five years ago has not wavered, and I continue to look for ways to ensure crime victims are given the support they deserve.”
“Five years since it passed as a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin, Marsy’s Law is exceeding the impact we hoped it would have in terms of empowering victims of crime,” said State Representative Todd Novak, the Assembly lead author of Marsy’s Law. “Thanks to Marsy’s Law, all actors in the criminal justice system from law enforcement to judges have adjusted their actions to ensure the rights of crime victims are no longer an afterthought.”
To help ensure that victims are aware of and have meaningful access to their rights, the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin organization has traveled the state hosting community events including silhouette displays and victim mapping exercises. The organization also partners with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to host an annual crime victims’ rights conference aimed at victim witness professionals, victim service providers, and victim attorneys.
“As we celebrate this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to the principles of Marsy’s Law, continuously working to educate, advocate, and improve the lives of victims of crime,” said Nela Kalpic, state director for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. “Our dedication to strengthening victims’ rights and services remains unwavering. We look forward to building upon this foundation of progress, ensuring that the voices of victims are heard and respected in every corner of Wisconsin.”
