The law is one result of the nationwide victims' rights movement which seeks to expand victims' participation in the pretrial, trial, sentencing, and parole stages of the judicial system. The most recent Utah statute was preceded by one which allowed victims certain rights, among which were to receive information concerning protection from intimidation, to be informed of their role in the criminal justice process, to be given clear explanations of all legal proceedings, to be entitled to restitution, and to have speedy disposition of criminal justice. The 1988 law allows victims to make either a written or oral statement at the parole board hearing; the intention of the bill is to provide balance to the proceedings. However, critics of the bill argue that it would overburden the system in terms of time and money and possibly create inequities in sentencing. This author argues that the legislative goal should be to involve victims more heavily in the earlier stages of the criminal justice process. 62 notes