Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of a crime victim

The rights of a victim as defined by the general assembly shall not be denied or abridged by the state, secondary to the constitutional rights of the defendant. Upon request, a victim shall have the right to timely notice of and to be present at proceedings related to the criminal offense; to be timely notified, present, and heard at proceedings related to the victim’s rights and the defendant’s sentencing, parole, and any other disposition; to be timely notified of the defendant’s incarceration location, release, escape, furlough, move to community corrections, work release, or death; to a copy of the defendant’s conditions of release; and to restitution for pecuniary loss related to the crime. A victim has the right to refuse an interview, deposition, or other discovery request made by the defendant, the defendant’s counsel, or any person acting on behalf of the defendant. A victim or a lawful representative of the victim has the right to assert these rights in any court. The joint resolution shall not provide grounds for a new trial for a defendant or any claim for damages against the government or any officer, employee, or agent of the government, or any governmental entity.R. The joint resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (89th) for adoption a second time, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.