Idaho victims’ rights proposal would cost state $553,000

Advocates of a proposal seeking to expand the rights of crime victims in Idaho say the statewide cost would be less than 1 percent of what the state already spends on public safety each year.

Research economists with the firm ECONorthwest released their analysis of the proposal Monday. According to the firm, it would cost the state $553,000 annually to implement the desired victim notification changes.

The proposal would change the Victim Rights Amendment inside Idaho’s constitution, which Idaho voters ratified in 1994. The current amendment details rights for victims. However, supporters of the proposal have said it does not do enough and needs to be updated.

The amendment, called Marsy’s Law for Idaho, was spurred by a California mother’s chance encounter with the man suspected of killing her daughter while the man was free on bail.