AN ACT relating to crime victims' rights.
     Create several new sections of KRS 421.500 to 421.575, the Kentucky Crime Victim Bill of Rights, to require courts to ensure that victims are afforded rights; allow the victim, his or her legal representative, and the attorney for the Commonwealth to assert the rights and prohibit defendants from obtaining any form of relief under KRS 421.500 to 421.575; require courts, in cases where the number of victims makes it impracticable to accord all of the victims the rights contained in KRS 421.500 to 421.575, to devise a procedure to give effect to KRS 421.500 to 421.575; allow the attorney for the Commonwealth or the victim to petition the next highest court for the issuance of an extraordinary writ if a court denies any right of the victim; allow the attorney for the Commonwealth in a defendant's appeal to assert as error the court's denial of any victim's right in the proceeding to which the appeal relates; amend KRS 421.500 to include notification of a victim if there is a motion for shock probation; amend KRS 421.500 to require law enforcement agencies, attorneys for the Commonwealth, and courts to make every reasonable effort to protect the privacy of the victim; amend KRS 421.500 to prohibit employers of victims or witnesses from retaliating against or discharging the victims or witnesses based on absence related to investigation or cooperation in the prosecution of the case; amend KRS 421.520 to clarify that the victim has a right to submit a written victim impact statement to the court if the court has before it a motion for shock probation.

     (Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

     Jan 4-introduced in House
     Jan 6-to Judiciary (H)
     Feb 2-posted in committee