Justice is not just about punishing the guilty—it is about protecting the innocent, standing up for those who have been wronged, and ensuring that every voice is heard. This month, the City of Monroe has taken a significant step forward in that mission by formally establishing a notification system for victims of violent crime.
While this ordinance does not create new rights beyond those already enshrined in our state constitution, it does something just as crucial: it ensures that victims can actually exercise the rights they have long been promised but too often denied.
For years, victims of violent crime have been entitled to be informed, to be heard, and to be involved in the judicial process. Yet, too many have found these rights to be little more than words on paper, ignored in practice and overlooked in policy. Without an effective mechanism in place, victims have been left in the dark—unaware of court dates, parole hearings, or plea deals that directly impact their lives. This new system will change that.
By adopting a structured and reliable notification process, the city is ensuring that victims are not just granted rights, but are actually able to use them. It is a necessary correction to a long-standing failure, one that acknowledges the pain of those who have suffered violence and seeks to restore a measure of dignity and fairness to the system.
Councilman Muhammad, who spearheaded this initiative, understands that justice is more than convictions—it is about inclusion, transparency, and respect for those who have endured harm. This system does not impose any new burdens on law enforcement or the courts; it simply holds them accountable to the duties they already have. It makes certain that victims are given the information they need to make their voices heard in a process that has, for too long, proceeded without them.
There is more work to be done. Rights for victims should not only be acknowledged—they should be enforced with the same urgency as any other legal protections.
This notification system is a vital start, and it is now up to the city to ensure that it is implemented effectively.
