HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2018-066 Resolution To Oppose Marsy’s Law Constitutional Amendment RES-2018-066
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE MARSY'S LAW CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
WHEREAS, in March 2oi8 the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted a
resolution in support of Marsy's Law, which is now on the November 2o18 ballot as a
constitutional amendment; and
WHEREAS, since that time, this amendment has become part of a broader campaign to
amend the North Carolina Constitution to fundamentally undermine the separation of
powers and core democratic principles; and
WHEREAS, while we are committed to supporting victims and their families and believe
they deserve dignity and respect, further analysis of this amendment reveals that it will
violate due process rights, unnecessarily restrict and delay criminal proceedings,
undercut diversion programs and other efforts to reduce incarceration rates in our
community, and significantly increase costs for our criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina already has statutory and constitutional protections for crime
victims, and that those victims would be better served by increased State resources for
existing victims' support programs, domestic violence shelters, and effective diversion,
counseling, and re-entry programs, rather that this unnecessary and misleading
amendment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby rescind the resolution adopted on March 20, 2oi8; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners is opposed
to the Marsy's Law / Crime Victims' Amendment constitutional referendum, and
encourages all residents of Orange County North Carolina to also oppose this misguided
and harmful amendment.
This the 1St day of November, 2o18.
Mark Dorosin, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners