In 1989, Texas adopted a constitutional amendment now in Article I, Section 30 establishing the various rights of crime victims, including the right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the trial process, the right to notification of court proceedings, the right to be present at all public proceedings, the right to confer with a prosecutor’s representative, and the right to restitution.
Protecting Trafficking Victims from Prosecution: Redefining Duress
Human trafficking survivors in the State of Texas deserve justice. Existing legal protections for victims is inadequate. Amending the existing definition of duress in Texas statute will enable victims to escape unjust prosecution, better steward state resources, and hold true perpetrators accountable.” Key points: Many victims of human trafficking are prosecuted for crimes occurred while...