[1][11] The proposed amendment to Section 8.1 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution, the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, appeared on the ballot of the November 4, 2014, general election.

[9] The state House approved HB 1121, the implementation bill reconciling the 1993 Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act with the constitutional amendment, on April 23, 2015.

[14] The editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune,[15] The Southern Illinoisan,[16] Herald & Review,[17] Rock River Times,[18] The Pantagraph[19] and Rockford Register Star[20] encouraged voters to approve the Marsy's Law amendment.

The Chicago Tribune editorial board wrote that the measure gives victims legal standing to assert rights.

The Daily Herald (Arlington Heights),[21] The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana)[22] and Quad-City Times[23] editorial boards opposed the amendment.

Whereas The News-Gazette and Quad-City Times said the referendum offered no new protections,[22][23] the Daily Herald said the constitution change "adds little aside from some enforcement provisions to rights already granted" and could increase court costs.

[14] The law ensures victims receive timely notice of all court proceedings and the accused's conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release.

[14] Additionally, the law allows victims the right to communicate with prosecution; to be heard at proceedings on post-arraignment release decisions, pleas, or sentencings; to attend trials and other court proceedings, and to have an advocate attend hearings with them; restitution; and to have their safety and the safety of their family considered in bail decisions and conditions of release.