Monday, September 9,1985/The Battalion/Page 5
Victim’s Bill of Rights allows
legal input for victim, family
By JENS B. KOEPKE
Staff Writer
Ayouneboy is murdered. During
a meeting oetween the judge and the
attorneys, the boy’s fathet asks the
judge to hear his side of the story.
The judge replies, “1 don’t give a
damn about you, this is between me
and the defendant.”
This is an example of the exclusio-
naryjudicial process that victims and
their relatives have encountered,
saidjoyce Knoll, chapter leader with
The Parents of Murdered Children.
Addressing the growing criticism
from victim’s groups, the state legis
lature passed House Bill 235, the
Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights. It took
effect on Sept. 1, 1985.
“It’s high lime that the victims
! were brought into the process . . . af
ter all they were the ones who were
traumatized," said Rep. Frank Te
jeda, co-sponsor of the oill.
The bill mandates that courts ex
plain the procedure of all judicial
processes to the victims ancl notif v
the victims of any trial cancellations
or postponements. Often, said
Knoll, victims take off work to at
tend a trial only to get there and find
out it has been postponed.
In addition, the legislation allows,
atthejudge’s discretion, for the vic
tim’s presence in the courtroom
“Before, witnesses were paraded
through the courtroom, saying what
a great guy the defendant was, but
"Before the law, the victim
was totally dependent on
the system; he had no le
gal input,” said James
Knoll, leader of Parents of
Murdered Children.
now victims will have more say at
trials," said James Knoll, president
of Parents of Murdered Children
and Joyce’s husband.
"I think you’ll see some stiffer pe
nalties as a result of the family being
present," Mrs. Knoll said.
Also, magistrates must now take
the saf ety of the victim into consider
ation when setting the amount of
hail.
The law also broadened the defi
nition of "a victim” to include
spouses, parents, adult relatives or
legal guardians, if the victim died.
The most important aspect of the
new law , said Tejeda, is the establish
ment of the Y’ictim Impact
Statement. The statement allows the
victim to tell the court how the crime
af fected his family financially, physi
cally and psychologically.
The statement is considered by
the judge when sentencing the de
fendant and bv the Parole Board at
parole hearings. The statement is in
cluded in the defendant’s Texas De
partment of Corrections folder.
“I think it (the statement) will
bring the violence of the crime more
into focus at sentencing," Knoll
said.
“Before the law, the victim was to
tally dependent on the system; he
haa no legal input,” Knoll said.
The bill exemplifies the more ac
commodating posture that courts
are taking toward victims, said Texas
A&M sociology professor Ben
Crouch. He cited the construction of
separate waiting rooms for witnesses
and victims and for offenders at a
Beaumont courthouse as an exam
ple of the court’s new outlook.
At this point 28 states have passed
crime victims legislation similar to
the Texas law. In addition, the fed
eral Victims of Crime Act was passed
in 1984.
“I think the law gives the victim a
better sense of satisfaction,” said
Suzanne Willms, director of the
Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse.
The bill directs the Clearinghouse
to conduct a survey on the number
and type of people to whom state
and local agencies provide Victim
Impact Statements during each year.
* T
*
if
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
4
4
4-
pid You Know a student o/r&aniz atiom
SHOWS 8 MOVIES A WEEK? THE MEMBERS
Select* the eil_n\s j Handle publicity, and>
other ASPECTS AS WELL.THEY ALSO ElND
time to party, tvae GtRcoe is msc asg-ie
C1MEMAj MEETINGS ARE EVERY MOklDAY \td
RUDDER TOWER. CALL 15TS; OR CoME
— ROOM 2_Up) MSC, EOR MORE \HFORMATION.
San Antonio’s
murder rate
increasing
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio
police, facing a 30 percent rise in the
city’s murder rate over the first eight
months of 1985, say there’s no one
reason for the increase.
■BH-Pt
corded 130 homicides in 1985, com
pared with 97 reported for the first
eight months of 1984. A total of 166
homicides took place in San Antonio
last year, police say.
Trying' ,
to go it alone?
You can rely on God’s
love and power—as
dhrist Jesus taught.
This is what Christian
Science worship services
are about each Sunday
rhOrning and Wednesday
Evening.
You’re invited to come and explore God’s goodness with us.
Open Tues., Wed., & Sat. 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Wed.7:30-8:00 p.m.
Christian Science Reading Room
201 Boyett, College Station, Tx.
Si
“Sure, we’re alarmed at an>
crease,” said homicide Lt. Ja
mey. “We don’t like it if there’s just
one murder. But there’s real pattern
in homicides in San Antonio. We go
through ups and downs in our mur
ders, just like any big city.”
Summey said part of the increase
in the murder rate is attributable to
an increase in the number of illegal
aliens from Mexico and Central
America.
“We’re seeing a greater number
of illegal aliens than before on both
ends of the picture, both as victims
and suspects,” Summey said. “It’s a
conservative guess that about 15 to
20 percent of the homicides this year
involved aliens.”
Another factor is San Antonio’s
growth, police say. Since 1980, San
Antonio has experienced a growth
rate of 10.8 percent, increasing its
population by more than 80,000.
Drinking, narcotics use, poverty
and the weather also are factors,
Summey said, but what prompts
people to kill remains elusive.
“Friday and Saturday nights are
out heaviest homicide nights. That’s
when folks are off, they’ve been paid
and they’re drinking,” Summey said.
“Most of the homicides occur in the
lower-income areas. And the biggest
increase in homicides this year oc
curred during the last three months,
when it got hot.”
But Summey said there’s “no such
thing as a typical homicide.”
“You can’t say what will trigger it,”
he said. We’re dealing with people.
And where people interact, there’s a
potential for violence.”
OCEAN CHEF SALAD
Buy one..get the other free!
Here’s a thirst-quenching,
money-saving offer from Long
John Silver’s and Dr. Pepper.
Buy any Seafood Dinner or
Long John
Silvers.
G
seafood shoppes
Chiller r and well give you a full
liter of Dr. Pepper, absolutely free!
'Includes shrimp, clams, oysters, scallops and all
Chillers Does not include fish dinners
Offer good for a limited time only at
1808 Texas Ave., College Station &
3224 S. Texas Ave., Bryan
0 TM
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
4 *
i
i
i
|
l
j
N
's
S:
S
s
5!
si
<
si
si
si
s
S
S
Si
Si
p
s
s
s
S
s
Si
N
s
s
Si
S
si
Si
WHY TAKE C & W DANCE
CLASSES AT GRAHAM
CENTRAL STATION?
1. We have small classes so you get more personal attention.
2. We require partners so you can concentrate on learning to
dance.
3. Our classes are $ 12/person for a 5 week session.
4. Your welcome to stay in Grahams free after classes.
BEGINNER Thursdays or Sundays, 5-6p.m,
This is the easy way to learn how to dance! You will
learn the two-step, waltz, and polka, as well as as
sorted jitterbug moves. Our relaxed atmosphere will
have you dancing in no time.
ADVANCED SWING Thursday, 6-7p.m.
If you already know how to dance, this class is for you!
We begin with swing moves including male and fe
male double spins, and continuous walkarounds. We
guarantee that this clas^ will challenge you from day
JITTERBUG Sundays, 6-7p.m.
Don't miss out on jitterbug because you don't know
how. You will learn the basic moves then expand on
them with an array of dips, drops, and aerials. You'll
learn many unique original moves that will help you to
stand out from the crowd.
Classes start THIS WEEK
Call John Benson (693-1663) To Register
Sponsored by ENVE