Senate Journal: Page 50: Tuesday, January 14, 1997

  50 JOURNAL OF THE SENATE 2nd Day
  adopt a resolution calling on Congress to pass the balanced budget
  amendment. And
  when it passes, we should be one of the first states to ratify.
  One of the foremost responsibilities of government is to protect the safety
  of its
  citizens. We are fortunate to live in a placewhere the crime rate is well
  below the national average. But make no mistake, crime is a problem here in
  Iowa.

  Every time we read or hear about violent crime, we should be outraged. When
  an
  innocent Iowan is struck down, stolen from, or has their life disrupted by
  crime, we are all victims.

  Seated in the gallery today are many Iowans affected by crime. Two families
  among
  them played a key role in the program I am submitting this year. The
  Hallengrens of Adel lost their daughter and a good friend to a drunk driver
  last April and
  approached me with many of the components of the bold anti-drunk driving
  program I am offering. The Sturdys of Fontanelle had a daughter murdered in
  a
  domestic violence situation many years ago and fought for over a decade to
  get restitution from the murderer. My automatic restitution proposal is a
  result of their
  efforts.
  These families and others have had the courage to stand up and speak out
  about a
  system which puts the rights of criminals aheadof the rights of victims.
  Today, I salute all victims who have the strength to stand up, speak out,
  and work for change.

  We Iowans, known for our compassion and common sense, and being driven by
  disdain for violence, must act boldly. We must stand up for the rights of
  victims of crime. We must stand up to the criminals. Those who break our
  laws will pay for their
  actions.
  The victims of crime will no longer be the forgotten ones in our criminal
  justice
  system. A thirty year era of permissiveness must end.
  I am recommending we adopt a Crime Victims' Bill of Rights to our state
  constitution. Twenty-nine other states already provide this kind of
  constitutional protection for victims and it's time Iowa does as well.

  We are adding 2,250 beds to our state prison system and now it's time to put
  the
  prisoners to work. Making prisoners work can increase their skills, reduce
  the recidivism rate, and make it possible for them to pay restitution to
  their victims and at
  least part of the cost of their imprisonment.
  A vast majority of Iowans join me today in asking you to restore the death
  penalty.
  We need it to protect the innocent victims of rape and kidnapping from being
  murdered. It should also be available as a weapon to be used against the
  most violent
  prisoners who kill correctional officers or others.
  If we are to be successful at reducing crime, one issue in particular must
  be
  addressed: juvenile crime.
  One of the great mistakes that has been made in public policy over the last
  30 years
  is that a shroud of secrecy has been created to protect juveniles from the
  consequences of their actions. We should allow full public access to
  information on
  juvenile crime and let them face the public scrutiny their actions deserve.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 1)

© 1997 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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