WAUSAU, Wis. — Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin is partnering with The Women’s Community and the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office to raise awareness about the rights and resources available to crime victims through a powerful silhouette display at the Marathon County Courthouse. 

On Aug. 28, eight red silhouettes will be displayed inside the courthouse, representing the unseen survivors who walk among us and have been impacted by crime. Each silhouette highlights a key right guaranteed to victims under Wisconsin’s constitutional crime victims’ rights amendment, known as Marsy’s Law. These include the rights: to privacy, to notice, to confer with the prosecution, to be present, to be heard, to restitution, to know their rights, and to have these rights enforced. 

Painted bright red for visibility, the silhouettes will feature a QR code that links directly to resources at the county and state levels, including websites for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, The Women’s Community, and the state Office of Crime Victims’ Services. The design is intended to educate those unfamiliar with the criminal justice system, recognize the hidden fight that many members of the community experience, and see the human element of the policies that we support as advocates, voters, and citizens. 

“Many victims, who can interact with the criminal justice system by no fault of their own, feel they have to navigate their pain from victimization in silence,” said District Attorney Kyle Mayo. “The silhouettes help remind us that they are not strangers, but rather our neighbors, family, and friends that are victims. Awareness is key to ensuring that these rights are exercised — these victims can only be protected if they know their rights exist and have the means to act on them.”

“Crucial safeguards provided by Marsy’s Law, like the right to be present and heard, empower current and future victims in our community to be more active and involved in process.  One of the most important aspects for healing after being victimized is feeling that your voice has been heard. We hope the display will help inform community members on the local and state resources available to them if they are or become a victim of crime,” said Executive Director of The Women’s Community Jane Graham Jennings, which provides specialized services and resources to people in central Wisconsin affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.  

“We are grateful for the partnership of District Attorney Mayo and The Women’s Community in their pursuit of bringing victim rights awareness to the Wausau area,” said Nela Kalpic, state director for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. “They are the ones who help crime victims every day in Marathon County navigate the criminal justice system. Victims deserve visibility and we hope this display brings awareness to the rights available to them.”

The eight silhouettes will be publicly placed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 28 at the Marathon County Courthouse (500 Forest St, Wausau, WI 54403). 

Media Note: For media who wish to schedule an interview with a representative from Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin or receive additional information, please contact Madelyn Hughes at mh@platform-communications.com.