Defendants are now required by state law to be in court when victims and their families give statements on how they’ve been affected by the crime committed.
P.A. 153 of 2018 was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on May 23. It amends the Crime Victim’s Rights Act to require a criminal defendant or juvenile offender to be physically present in the courtroom when a victim impact statement is read. The court can make exceptions if it determines the defendant is being disruptive or poses a threat to the safety of anyone in the courtroom.
The new legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Holly Hughes as House Bill 5407.
Information on the Crime Victim’s Rights Act is at www.legislature.mi.gov.
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