History of the Law
Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee Nicholas, a college student in California who was stalked and murdered by her former boyfriend. Marsy’s parents were confronted by the accused murderer in a grocery store shortly after the murder. The family was not aware that the accused had been released, and without no right to demand information about the case. As a result, the Marsy’s Law initiative began and was passed in California in 2008. Marsy’s Law was passed overwhelmingly in Florida in November of 2018. The law was passed as a Constitutional Amendment (Amendment 6) through a voter referendum. Its provisions are now embodied in Article I, Section 16 (b) – (e) of the Florida Constitution.
Protecting Victims & Their Families
Victims of crime in Florida are now guaranteed the rights found in its Constitutional provisions including the following: to be treated with dignity and respect, to be reasonably protected; to receive notice of and ability to be present at and heard at all public proceedings involving the criminal conduct; to notice of release and escape; and the right to privacy. The privacy right is specified to be the right to prevent disclosure of “information or records that could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family”. Art. I, Sect. 16 (b) (5), Fla. Const.
If you are a victim in a criminal case, complete the Criminal Victim Protection Request below, and file it in the Clerk’s office, to redact your information.