Dear Senators Kyl and Feinstein:

We are writing to express our strong and unequivocal support for your efforts to pass S. J. Res. 3, the proposed Crime Victims' Rights Amendment, and send it on to the States for ratification.

As Attorneys General from diverse regions and populations in our nation, we continue to see a common denominator in the treatment of crime victims throughout the country. Despite the best intentions of our laws, too often crime victims are still denied basic rights to fair treatment and due process that should be the birthright of every citizen who seeks justice through our courts. We are convinced that statutory protections are not enough; only a federal constitutional amendment will be sufficient to change the culture of our legal system.

The rights you propose in S. J. Res. 3 are moderate, fair, and yet profound. They will extend to crime victims a meaningful opportunity to participate in each critical stage of their cases. At the same time, they will not infringe on the fundamental rights of those accused or convicted of offenses. Neither will these rights interefer with the proper functioning of law enforcement. Attorney General Reno spoke for many of us in law enforcement when she noted,

Some have argued that federal constitutional rights for victims will infringe on important principles of federalism. We disagree. Each of our state criminal justice systems accommodates federal rights for defendants. To provide a similar floor of rights for victims is a matter of basic fairness.

Please share this letter with your colleagues so that they may know of our strong support for S. J. Res. 3.

Sincerely,