Marsy’s Law for Georgia Calls on Sheriffs to Notify Victims of Inmates Released Early Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
ATLANTA – April 2, 2020 – Marsy's Law for Georgia is working with the Georgia Sheriffs' Association to send letters to each of Georgia's 159 sheriffs asking them to continue prioritizing their constitutional duty to notify crime victims of the impending or early release of inmates as they take measures to address the potential spread of COVID-19.
New York City, Los Angeles, and Ohio’s Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, have recently released hundreds of inmates early in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within jails. Should Georgia Sheriff's Offices decide this a necessary course of action to take, Marsy's Law for Georgia is asking for reassurances that every effort will be made to notify the victims of the inmates' release.
"We are proud of our law enforcement during this time of crisis, and we want to encourage them to ensure the interests of victims are also considered before deciding to release inmates," said Brad Alexander, partner - Impact Public Affairs, on behalf of Marsy's Law for Georgia, Marsy's Law for Georgia. "We believe practicing social distancing and quarantine are important to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but sheriffs also need to understand that there are victims who could be put in dangerous or life-threatening situations during this time."
Passed by Georgia voters in November 2018, Marsy's Law for Georgia requires that crime victims are provided with timely notice of any release, escape, or death of the accused, if the accused is in custody or on supervision at the time of death.
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About Marsy's Law for Georgia In 2018, Marsy’s Law amended the Georgia State Constitution to include a Bill of Rights for victims of violent crimes during criminal proceedings. The constitutional amendment received broad support and assures rights for victims, including standing to petition a court if they feel that their rights have been violated. Georgia is one of the numerous states across the country that have added Marsy’s Law to their constitutions in recent years. To learn more about Marsy’s Law Georgia, visit www.marsyslawforga.com. Victims and supporters interested in sharing their stories can email [email protected].
About Marsy’s Law Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas has made it his life’s mission to give victims and their family’s constitutional protections and equal rights.
Since California’s passage of the Victim’s Bill of Rights Act of 2008, Marsy’s Law legislation has been overwhelmingly approved by voters in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Maggie McDaniel, on behalf of Marsy's Law communications 21 [email protected] 404.814.1330