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Bill would let victims see presentencing reports

By: Dan Shaw, [email protected]//February 6, 2014//

Bill would let victims see presentencing reports

By: Dan Shaw, [email protected]//February 6, 2014//

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Crime victims would be able to view presentence investigation reports under a bill heard by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 612, would let victims of crimes do what defendants now can: review any information concerning themselves that the reports contain. The author of the bill, state Rep. Pat Strachota, R-West Bend, said presentence investigation reports often exercise a strong influence on judges when they are deciding what sort of sentence to hand down.

She said defendants are now allowed to double check the reports to make sure statements they provided were recorded accurately. Victims, she said, should be able to do the same with the facts pertaining specifically to them.

Current law requires those who prepare presentence investigation reports to make a reasonable attempt to determine the economic, physical and psychological effects a crime had on a victim, but gives victims no means of know how the information provided will be portrayed.

For AB 612 to become law, it must be passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker.

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