Legislation
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Tuesday August 21st 2007 marked a historic day for sexual assault victims in the state of Connecticut. Thanks to the commitment and motivation of Jean Henry (Legislative Program Manager from the Office of Policy and Management), the Connecticut State Government and Donna Palomba, the statute of limitations for sexual assault crimes involving DNA evidence has been removed. CT Governor Jodi Rell, Waterbury Mayor Jarjura, Waterbury Police Chief Neil O'Leary, Commissioner Danaher along with several CT senators and representatives gathered at the Waterbury Police Department for the ceremonial signing of this important section of the implementer bill no. 1500 passed in the June special session of the Legislature.
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As Governor Rell emphasized, "Make no mistake: Sexual assault is violent crime - it is not a crime of passion. It is violence of the most personal and devastating kind, as brutal in its own right as murder. And it deserves not only harsh punishment but our very best - and unswerving - effort to bring the perpetrators to justice. Today Connecticut takes another step in that direction." After expressing her profound gratitude, Donna Palomba furthered Governor Rell's point by asking "one more thing" of the Connecticut State Legislature, "to make the statute of limitations on sexual assault retroactive." Such an accomplishment would make John Regan, the perpetrator in Donna's case, susceptible to conviction for the crime of sexual assault.
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View the bill
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Read more:
http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=6961172
Every state has different laws regarding the crime of sexual assault. The following websites allow you to find the laws in your state;
States vary greatly in their treatment of the statute of limitation for sexual assault. For example, the statute of limitations for sexual assault is five years in Kansas, 10 years in Iowa, 15 years in Massachusetts and without limit in New Jersey. View a state-by-state breakdown.
> GPS proposal gets support
Oconomowoc Focus
Last week the committee came to terms, agreeing on the budget item that will require sex offenders convicted of first- or second-degree assault of a child to wear a GPS ankle bracelet for life.
> Fee to raise $1M a year to help abuse victims
The Oklahoman
Legislators approved a bill Thursday that would generate about $1 million a year for programs providing services for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
> Sex offender bill borrows from predecessors
Portland Press Herald
Some sex offenders would be barred from contact with children and punished more severely if they violated the ban in places like schools and playgrounds, under a proposal crafted by a legislative panel.
> Consent law 'won't bring convictions'
The Australian
A NSW government proposal to enshrine into law the concept of consent in sexual assault cases will do nothing to lift low conviction rates, the Rape Crisis Centre says.
> Fed Up With All the Violence
The Daily News
In wake of Chickasaw Gardens assault, citizens group takes outrage to Nashville.
> Easing trauma for sex victims
The Daily Telegraph
Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic of all crimes and its victims suffer deep physical and psychological wounds which may last the rest of their lives.
> Rape reforms need funding - Libs
The Daily Telegraph
ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Hatzistergos has pledged action for rape victims in the state's courts after admitting the system had failed them for years.
> Bill would increase penalties for sexually assaulting children
News Channel 8
The state Senate has voted unanimously to create a new crime for sex offenses against children under age of 13.
> Statute of limitations bill passes House
Waterbury Republican American
The statute of limitations barred Waterbury police from charging a man with rape, even though DNA linked him to a notorious 1993 sexual assault. The state House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday aimed at preventing a repeat of what happened in Waterbury.
> 7NEWS Investigation Inspires Law Protecting Victims of Sex Crimes
7 NEWS
The Colorado attorney general's office must now advise victims of sex crimes committed by doctors of their rights to pursue criminal and civil charges against those doctors.
> Senate Bill Would Require $5 Sexually Oriented Business Surcharge
KWTX
Patrons of sexually oriented businesses would be charged a $5 admission fee imposed by the state under legislation the Senate approved early Wednesday.
> Cross' Internet safety bill clears chambers
The Beacon News
A bill seeking to make sexually explicit conversations between adults and minors on the computer a felony has passed both chambers of the General Assembly.
> Illinois' time limit on rape charges can still let attackers off the hook
Medill Reports
To get away with murder in Illinois, you probably have to be extremely clever or unusually lucky. But to get away with rape – under some circumstances – you just have to be patient.
> Legislators approve bill to protect victims of sex crimes, abuse
Columbia Tribune
Legislation giving more protection to victims of rape, other sex crimes and domestic abuse was sent to the governor late yesterday.
> President Bush Signs The Adam Walsh Child Protection And Safety Act Of 2006
The White House
This law marks an important step forward in our Nation's efforts to protect those who cannot protect themselves. July 2006
> Legislature Considers Measures To Protect Crime Victims
North Country Gazette
ALBANY-In observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, members of the New York State Senate Majority Conference have passed a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence while the Assembly says it will consider a series of measures designed to give crime victims improved treatment and services.
> Jessica's Law approved in Senate; Legislature: Measure allowing death penalty easily moves to House
The Dallas Morning News
Austin - The Senate overwhelmingly approved its version of Jessica's Law on Tuesday, moving Texas one step closer to becoming the sixth U.S. state to allow capital punishment for certain sex crimes against children.
> Senate passes version of Jessica's Law
The Dallas Morning News
The Senate passed its own version of the contentious Jessica's Laws against sex offenders on Tuesday, after a tempered debate that covered everything from the constitutionality of the death penalty to wrongful convictions in Texas.
> Interact
The Independent Weekly
Interact is a nonprofit that provides services at no cost to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Wake County. Its programs include a 24-hour crisis line, a residential shelter, and court and hospital advocacy.
> AG asks for increased funding for network of domestic, sexual assault programs
Enid News - Oklahoma
Attorney General Drew Edmondson, warning more needs to be done to stem domestic violence, called on state lawmakers Tuesday to pump another $3 million into Oklahoma's network of domestic violence and sexual assault programs.
> Deal would permit executions of worst child predators
Houston Chronicle
Austin - A long-awaited Senate compromise over how to punish child-sex offenders would reserve the death penalty for only the most dangerous predators.
> Group pushing for better sex education
The Daily Tar Heel
A pro-choice group supporting sex education reform bills in the N.C. General Assembly hosted an event in Raleigh on Tuesday night to raise awareness about issues such as sexual assault, women's health and prevention first education.
> State will pay for rape exams
Bismarck Tribune
North Dakota legislators are moving to ensure that a woman who is raped is not obliged to foot part of the bill for investigating who assaulted her.
> Emergency contraception information made law for sexual assault survivors
The Campus Press (CU)
Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter signed the first pro-choice bill, Emergency Contraception Information for Sexual Assault Survivors, to come into law in Colorado since 1999 on March 15, 2007.
> Springing forward and raising awareness: Let's bring sexual assault and abuse out of its long-standing freeze and into the sunlight.
The Minnesota Daily
It is not just the weather springing forward. Fittingly, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; a time for a too-often stigmatized, shadowed and pervasive problem to creep out from its own freeze of sorts and be acknowledged, discussed and prevented.
> Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Crack Down on Cruise Ship Crime
Fox News
Washington - Members of Congress, hearing horror stories Tuesday about crime aboard cruise ships, said legislation might be needed to guard against lawlessness on the open seas.
> Legislature Passes Polygraph, Assault Victims Law
KETV - Omaha
Omaha - The Nebraska Legislature on Friday approved a bill that will change the way investigators approach sexual assault cases.
> Bits of this and that
Daily Southtown
Republican Sen. Bill Brady has introduced a bill modeled on the Jessica's Law passed in Florida, which mandates a minimum prison sentence for convicts and monitoring of anyone convicted of predatory sexual assault of a child.
> Domestic Violence Bill Passes, $4.6 Million in Grant Funding Preserved for Nebraska
Republican Valley Media Group
Lincoln, NE - Attorney General Jon Bruning today applauded the Legislature's passage of LB 143 which prevents the use of polygraph testing of sexual assault victims as the sole condition for proceeding with a criminal investigation.
> Proposed law would protect victims of sexual assault
The Ambler Gazette
Last week the Pennsylvania State Senate voted in favor of Greenleaf's Sexual Violence Victim Protection Legislation, also known as Senate Bill 150, which authorizes Pennsylvania courts to grant protection for sexual abuse victims regardless of whether they decide to file charges against their abuser.
> Hoeven Signs Jessica's Law, strengthening sentencing and probation for violent sexual offenders
KXMC North Dakota
Bismarck - Gov. John Hoeven today signed House Bill 1216, House Bill 1217, and Senate Bill 2029, which strengthen the state's penalties, probation, and civil commitment laws for sexual offenders.
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