Press Room

Senate Passes Bill Today by Senator Giron to Strengthen the Colorado Victims Right Act

Tuesday, March 27 2012

DENVER – Today, the Senate passed  House Bill 1053 sponsored by Senator Angela Giron  (D-Pueblo). This bill will update the existing Victim’s Rights Act and increase protections for Coloradans. The Victim Rights Act was originally passed in 1993 and was last revised in 2006.  The Victim’s Right Act guarantees certain rights to victims of specific crimes including violent crimes, kidnapping, sexual assault and hate crimes.

Under current law, victims of these acts have the right to notification of and the right to be present at all criminal proceedings, the right to provide a victim’s impact statement, and the right to be informed of a perpetrator’s release, among others.  House Bill 1053 adds new crimes to the Victim’s Rights Act, expands definitions, increases protections for victims’ identities, increases the level of victim input and clarifies victims’ rights throughout the criminal justice process.

Senator Giron offered the following comment on the passage of House Bill 1053 today:

“The Victim’s Rights Act was a landmark piece of legislation that provided Colorado citizens with necessary rights and protections.  I’m pleased that we were able to work together to pass House Bill 1053 through the Senate to improve and clarify the Victim's Rights Act and continue providing victims of crimes the support and safety they need.”

House Bill 1053 adds the crimes of trafficking in adults, trafficking in children, first degree burglary, retaliation against a judge, and retaliation against a juror to the current victim’s rights statutes. The new bill also requires criminal records keepers to remove victims’ social security numbers, provides victims the right to have their address removed, and to be informed about protection services. The bill also adds email as an acceptable means of providing victims with information related to criminal proceedings and increases and clarifies victims’ rights in criminal proceedings.

House Bill 1053 will now head to the House of Representatives for approval of Senate amendments. This bill was sponsored in the House by Representative Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs).