Marsy's Law for Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Justice Host 2025 WI Crime Victims' Rights Conference

Madison, WI - Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Justice will host the 2025 Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Conference next week. The free virtual event is scheduled for April 3-4. It will feature a diverse group of presenters that will focus on efforts to improve the implementation, enforcement, and accessibility of crime victims’ rights throughout the state. 

The conference will be held shortly before the fifth anniversary of the ratification of Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights constitutional amendment, commonly known as Marsy’s Law. The conference will also serve as the kick-off event for Wisconsin’s recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which begins Sunday, April 6. 

“This conference brings together folks who work to protect victims’ rights and will include presentations and discussions about important topics,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “With the reduction in federal funding, we’re at a critical juncture for victim services in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is proud to support this vital work.”

This year’s conference will feature a panel discussion on the impact of Marsy’s Law on victims and the criminal justice system over the last five years. The panel will include Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Matthew Torbenson, Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Hyland, Executive Director of the Dane County Rape Crisis Center Dana Pellebon, and Crime Victims Rights Board Operations Director and Policy Initiatives Advisor Anne Kessenich.

Other speakers at the conference include:

• Attorney General Josh Kaul
• Renee Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Victims of Crime
• David Adams, Co-Founder of Parnall & Adams Law, LLC, a firm dedicated to civil rights, wrongful death investigations, and various matters related to tribal law, including the investigation of neglected cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)
• Irvin Waller, prize-winning author, professor, and champion of victim’s rights, collaborative policing, and violence prevention

The full conference agenda may be viewed here.

The virtual conference is open to stakeholders throughout and beyond the criminal justice system, including victims’ rights attorneys, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, community-based advocates, victim-witness professionals, and survivors. Those interested in attending the 2025 Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Conference can register here.  

“The annual Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Conference is an opportunity for stakeholders and the community to share knowledge, collaborate on new strategies, and develop a unified effort that supports victims of crime in Wisconsin,” said Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Director Nela Kapic.