Local groups support Amendment Two

Elections are coming next week on November 4th, and many people are talking about different issues on the ballot. Amendment Two is one ABC 17 has previously reported on earlier this summer. If it passes, it would allow for prior evidence and convictions to be presented in a trial, when involving crimes of sexual nature involving children.

Executive Director of Missouri Kids First Joy Oesterly said, “In 2014, the 22 accredited child advocacy centers in the state of Missouri saw over 7,000 thousand children.”

Oesterly said she supports Amendment Two on the ballot.

“So, for example the Sandusky case at Penn State had multiple victims. There were only charges in some of those cases because they felt the evidence in some cases was not strong enough to present to a jury. In his case there was evidence of other crimes and in Missouri that evidence could not be used in a case that goes to a jury”, said Oesterly.

However, Oesterly is aware of the opposition. “I do believe that there are criminal defense attorneys opposed to it, I do believe the ACLU is opposed to it but any other opposition other than that I’m not really aware of”, she said.

Everyone ABC 17 News spoke with Tuesday said they were for the amendment.