State Rep. Graham Filler is spearheading a plan to better protect crime victims, give them a stronger voice in the criminal justice process, and make sure they are informed about their rights.

Filler, of DeWitt, worked closely with crime victims and their families in his former role as an assistant Attorney General.

“Some of the circumstances crime victims have to overcome are horrific,” Filler said. “I really empathize with them, so I want to do everything I can to make sure they are treated with compassion and respect throughout the judicial process.”

Since the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim’s Rights Act was approved in 1985 and expanded upon with a state constitutional amendment in 1988, little more has been done to ensure the system is working well for Michiganders who have been victimized – despite many other significant changes to the state’s criminal laws.

Filler’s bipartisan plan strengthens and expands existing rights and add new safeguards to account for modern technology.

House Bill 5679 adds certain crimes enacted after the passage of the Crime Victim’s Rights Act to ensure victims of those crimes are afforded the rights they are due. These rights include the right to consultation with the prosecutor about the case and discussion of any potential plea agreement before such an agreement is finalized. Victims also have the right to attend the trial and other court hearings and to provide an impact statement at the time of sentence.

The plan also protects the rights of crime victims to be heard in court during hearings that use remote technology, a tool used more and more frequently since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bill 5681 ensures victims can deliver their victim-impact statements using remote technology. House Bill 5680 ensures a victim’s image can be protected from disclosure when the court proceedings are conducted through internet streaming, or other types of online platforms.

Finally, House Bill 5560 ensures survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are connected with confidential supportive services.

“We must make sure the voices of victims are not lost as our court systems and criminal justice procedures evolve and change,” Filler said. “These reforms will protect their role in the process.”

House Bills 5679-81 and 5560 remain under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee.