Ohio House Bill 343, otherwise known as Marsy's Law has officially gone into effect on Thursday giving more rights to victims of crime.

The bill, which passed with overwhelming support in 2017, was signed into law by Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine earlier in the year. Marsy's Law amended the Ohio Revised Code to make changes in the rights to victims of crimes in Ohio.

The legislation mandates compliance and prescribes specific requirements within the criminal justice system to ensure the protection of rights. Some examples are as follows:

- The Supreme Court must create a victim's request form ensuring that each and every criminal justice system official is aware of the rights each victim has chosen to assert.

- New procedures to ensure that victims' rights to be notified, present and heard during criminal justice proceedings are protected.

- The right of victims to have their names, addresses and identifying information protected from public release.

- Guidance for criminal justice system officials and victims alike on mandatory restitution proceedings.

- Procedures for attorneys to enforce victims' rights at the trial and appeals court levels.

The bill was sponsored by Representative Andrea White, who says the purpose of the legislation is to make sure all victims know their legal rights.

"Not only do crime victims deserve to be told their rights proactively upfront, but court systems and all the partners in the criminal justice system need to know what those rights are and have the processes and tools in place so they can adequately protect them," White said.

Under Marsy's Law, the first police officer to speak with a crime victim must inform the victim of their rights by providing them a victim's rights request form along with a pamphlet and information card.

If no officer shares this with the victim, the prosecutor is now required to share and review the request form.