Often, the public’s fascination with criminals steals attention away from the voices of those who have been harmed. Recent documentaries like Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” have turned perpetrators into subjects of cultural intrigue.
Meanwhile, the stories of victims are left in the shadows, with many unaware of their lives, their families, and the impact they left. However, as Attorney General, the victims and their families are always at the forefront of my mind because they are those for whom we serve justice.
This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is especially important as we fight to serve justice on behalf of victims of preventable crime. Across the United States, there has been an increase in violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
Just last week, an illegal immigrant brutally killed a mother in Florida, leaving her two teenage daughters without a mother. In our home state of Alabama, a mother and her two children were kidnapped and murdered by a man with ties to Mexican gangs who had previously been detained for entering the country illegally. Last month, an illegal immigrant killed a college student in cold blood in Chicago.
Even beyond the need to address our porous border and lack of immigration enforcement, our government has a responsibility to deliver justice for victims and ensure safety for all Americans. Through steadfast, hardline prosecution that ensures criminals face consequences for their actions, we can prevent repeat offenders. We can’t achieve this with politically motivated, soft-on-crime judges who refuse to acknowledge the gravity of even the most depraved crimes.
In too many cases, the offender has committed punishable crimes before, but received too light a sentence or was issued undue parole. This means violent criminals are allowed back onto our streets, posing a threat to innocent Americans. Furthermore, data from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) suggests that 70% of released prisoners in the U.S. are rearrested within five years, and a shocking 50% are arrested within two.
The most common new crime for those released is assault, meaning these criminals are not engaging in victimless crimes—they’re physically harming law-abiding citizens. When our judicial system fails to prosecute criminals fairly, it’s a disservice to victims, their families, and those they go on to hurt in the future.
Earlier this month, I took measures to ensure a violent rapist and murderer was fully held accountable for his despicable crimes. Despite court filings in the 1999 case that identified evidence of repeated violent sexual behavior and a second rape after the murder, this criminal was able to evade the death penalty.
I took action to reinstate the sentence and ensure the case was closed once and for all. Even after 27 years, Melanie Rowell, an innocent mother who became a victim of a horrific crime, deserves justice. Not only for her, but for her two young children who were left without their mother.
Through sustained advocacy, victims can claim the platform they deserve—sharing their stories and driving meaningful change. Survivors and their families deserve to be heard, not just during moments of national attention, but through ongoing efforts that produce lasting results beyond the courtroom.
We can’t allow the news cycle to wash away crimes only to replace them with new horrific stories in the coming weeks. Lawmakers have a duty to keep survivors’ voices central to these conversations, especially as criminal justice remains a defining issue across the country. In Alabama, we’re furthering legislation that allows our state law enforcement to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We have a responsibility to those that have been harmed to continually improve accountability and public safety.
Year over year, roughly 5 million people fall victim to reported violent crime. For most, this reality remains distant unless it happens to them or someone they love. While recent declines in national crime offer hope that less Americans will feel this pain, our responsibility does not diminish.
It’s time for lawmakers in Washington to update the Crime Victims’ Rights Act to keep up with changing criminal habits, new technology, and victims’ needs. A recent example of this was the Laken Riley Act, which works to prevent repeat violent crime by requiring the detention of non-citizens accused of certain crimes. Furthermore, we must work with federal agencies to ensure the protections included in the Crime Victims’ Rights Act are being upheld in every state.
We have a civic responsibility to listen to victims, take action in any way we can, and advocate for policies that protect victims across all of our communities. As Attorney General for nearly 10 years, I have closely tracked these issues and understand what work still remains. Bringing federal solutions will be a top priority of mine as Senator of Alabama.
Steve Marshall has served as Alabama Attorney General since 2017 and is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
