DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is making a push for a state constitutional amendment to allow children and individuals with disabilities to testify via closed-circuit television.
A release from the Iowa Attorney General's Office states the proposal comes following a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that reversed decades of protections through closed-circuit testimony, which allowed children to testify in a separate room from their abuser via video.
According to Bird, Iowa is the only state to not allow this option for children and individuals with disabilities.
She said the decision will lead to more victims choosing not to testify.
"We will see fewer prosecutions of crimes against children. Particularly those that are brutal, whether it is brutal beatings and child abuse or sexual abuse or other violent crimes that a child might witness. Kids will be too scared to testify, and those cases will get dropped. Criminals will walk free," Bird said at a Thursday press conference.
The proposed amendment will be brought before state legislature during their session which begins Jan. 13. To become part of the state constitution, it will need to pass two sessions of legislature before going to a general election ballot vote as early as 2028.
“As a mom and prosecutor, I will never stop fighting to protect kids,” said Bird. “I know how hard it is for kids to be arm’s length in court from the criminal defendants who brutally beat or sexually molested them. Our constitutional amendment will restore closed-circuit testimony to protect kids in court and bring criminals to justice.”