Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Troy McCullough, Tim Davis, Jennifer Holland, Kathleen Carlson and Jenny Hykes.

If passed, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution would appropriately give more rights to the victims of crime, especially those victims of violent crime.

Crime victims would be able to “be present at significant legal proceedings in the offender’s case and to speak at sentencings, including the right to object to a previously negotiated plea or to the offender’s release from custody,” an Associated Press story reported.

This part of the amendment would allow the crime victim to experience what may often be a very cathartic part of his or her healing process.

It would give the victim an opportunity to look face to face with his or her offender and ask them why they committed the crime.

Not only could this be a healthy part of recovery for the victim, but the criminal may also experience some kind of personal insight to what he or she did and then realize a different side of the ramification of the crime, such as an emotional effect instead of the punishment given.

Another important part of the amendment would include informing victims when the criminal was released or if the criminal escaped.

Knowing a criminal is “safely” put in jail gives some respite to victims, and so might knowing the criminal escaped or was released. This could allow the victim to take extra precautions, or just to be aware of the situation he or she is currently in.

The proposed amendment would provide to victims “‘reasonable measures’ to protect them against further violence or intimidation by accused or convicted offenders,” the story reported.

Above all, the importance of the victim is key and hopefully this portion of the amendment would instill that important element.