00CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 43                                                                         
01 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the                                         
02 rights of victims of crimes and to criminal administration.                                                             
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  Article I, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
05  SECTION 12.  CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION [EXCESSIVE                                                                     
06 PUNISHMENT].  Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,                                        
07 nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.  Criminal [PENAL] administration shall                                   
08 be based [ON THE PRINCIPLE OF REFORMATION AND] upon the following: the                                                
09 need for protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender, the rights                                     
10 of victims of crimes, restitution from the offender, and the principle of                                               
11 reformation.                                                                                                           
12    * Sec. 2.  Article I, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding a new section                        
13 to read:                                                                                                                
14  SECTION 24.  RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS.  Crime victims, as defined by                                                   

01 law, shall have the following rights as provided by law: the right to be reasonably                                     
02 protected from the accused through the imposition of appropriate bail or conditions of                                  
03 release by the court; the right to confer with the prosecution; the right to be treated                                 
04 with dignity, respect, and fairness during all phases of the criminal and juvenile justice                              
05 process; the right to timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused;                               
06 the right to obtain information about and be allowed to be present at all criminal or                                   
07 juvenile proceedings where the accused has the right to be present; the right to be                                     
08 allowed to be heard, upon request, at sentencing, before or after conviction or juvenile                                
09 adjudication, and at any proceeding where the accused's release from custody is                                         
10 considered; the right to restitution from the accused; and the right to be informed, upon                               
11 request, of the accused's escape or release from custody before or after conviction or                                  
12 juvenile adjudication.                                                                                                  
13    * Sec. 3.  The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the voters of                           
14 the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the                        
15 State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.