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Survivors of homicide, such as family members, friends, and other loved ones of the victim feel the life changing ramification of the trauma, hardship, and loss that followed the crime. These secondary victims may face additional challenges in accessing resources and generally throughout the legal process. Marsy's Law can help:
Right to be informed of all rights: As a secondary victim of homicide, it can be very difficult to know what your rights are. It is crucial these survivors are informed of their rights as they proceed through the justice process.
Right to notice of any release or escape: For homicide survivors, being updated on this can impact their day-to-day life. For example, Marsy’s family ran into the offender at their local grocery store after not being notified of his release, which was a very traumatic experience and greatly impacted their healing.
Right to privacy: With homicide, the secondary victims become a voice when it comes to looking into the past of a victim. For example, in the Mollie Tibbetts case they did an extensive search into her mental health. This was extremely invasive and having the right to privacy would mean voicing concerns in these unnecessary investigations.
Right to restitution: No amount of money will ever replace a life lost. Yet, restitution can assist in any financial burdens that now arise from losing a loved one.