Skip to main content
S 447 105th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement District courts Evidence (Law) Exclusionary rule (Evidence) Juries Law Sentences (Criminal procedure) Trials Victims of crimes Witnesses

Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997

Introduced: March 14, 1997 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 3, 1997
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10338)
Mar 14, 1997
Introduced in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 28.
Mar 14, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2330)
Mar 14, 1997
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit a United States district court from ordering the exclusion of any victim of an offense from the trial of the accused defendant on the basis that the victim may, during the sentencing phase: (1) make a victim impact statement or present any victim impact information in relation to the sentence; or (2) testify as to the effect of the offense on the victim or the victim's family.

Specifies that the fact that a victim attended or observed the trial in accordance with applicable statutes, rules, or other provisions of law shall not be construed to create a danger of creating unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury.

Makes this Act applicable to pending cases.

What's happening now October 3, 1997

Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10338)

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 924 Related bill Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Mar 14, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 447: Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-447/
MLA
"S. 447: Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-447/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 447, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-447/.
Markdown link
[S. 447: Victims' Rights Clarification Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-447/)
Report a problem