A new law will force criminals to see or hear the statements the victims of their crimes make at sentencing. Governor Tom Vilsack signed the new requirement into law this morning and called it an “important, significant step.”The law’s a response to the case of Jonathan Memmer. Memmer was convicted of the brutal murder of two women in Iowa City, but he left the courtroom before the families presented their “impact statements.” The new law lets victims submit their statements on audio or videotape if they don’t want to be present in the courtroom.Vilsack says it’s not only good for victims, it’ll give the criminals a clear understanding of how their actions impact lives.
