The Ledger by Kathy Leigh Berkowitz
November 4, 2019
A task force organized by Polk County Clerk of Courts Stacey Butterfield proposes tweaks to Marsy’s Law to better protect crime victims’ personal information.
LAKELAND — Florida clerks of court say Marsy’s Law, the constitutional amendment that gave sweeping new rights to crime victims and their families, needs some adjustments.
It hasn’t been a breeze to enforce, partly because there isn’t a standardized, statewide approach to handling records and confidentiality, said Stacy Butterfield, Polk County’s clerk of courts.
Marsy’s Law, which took effect Jan. 8 in Florida, gives crime victims the right to receive notifications of all legal proceedings involving the accused, as well as the right to privacy, the right to be heard, and the right to be protected from harassment.
