by Roy Taylor, Daily Vidette Reporter

ISU professors have mixed reactions to the Crime Victim’s Rights amendment, which passed by a wide majority in Tuesday’s election.

The amendment outlines a 10-point plan that guarantees victims of crime in Illinois protection under the law.

Official statewide results were not available, but McLean County officials said the amendment passed by 39,544 to 9.549 after a count Wednesday afternoon.

Political science professor Harvey Zeidenstein said the passage of the amendment symbolizes the need to give rights to victims.

The amendment should balance the scales of justice so they are more in favor of victims, he said.

Robert Bradley, associate professor of political science, said he believes that he is in the minority in his opposition to the amendment.

According to Bradley, those with a knowledge of the criminal justice system realize that the amendment has further implications than merely symbolizing victim’s rights.

Bradley says he recognized three major flaws in the amendment. It is redundant, it inc4reases administrative rules and costs, and it “further weighs the scale in favor of the government.”

The rule is redundant because victim’s tights are already covered under state law, and the cost is too high, he said.