Several Bills to Enhance Options for Domestic Violence Victims Move Forward
Madison—Today, the state legislature approved a slate of bills that will give survivors of domestic violence better protections when separating from abusive partners. Victim advocates said the measures will help survivors navigate what can often be a confusing and dangerous process.
“We are grateful for these improvements, which will benefit domestic violence victims and their children,” said Patti Seger, executive director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (End Abuse). “Advocating for changes in the law is one of the most impactful ways we work to make Wisconsin a safer and more peaceful state.”
The State Assembly’s voting today had a particular focus on victim legislation and included final passage of Senate Bill 97. This bill will authorize judges and court commissioners to include protections for victims’ pets as part of the restraining order process. Advocates say that abusers’ threats and violent acts against victims’ pets are remarkably common tactics in domestic violence cases. Pet abuse is a very effective way for abusers to terrorize and control their victims.
“Batterers can be ruthless in their campaigns to keep victims trapped and under their control,” said Seger. “Many will go to such lengths as to retaliate against a beloved cat, dog or other pet. Final passage of SB 97 means that victims in Wisconsin will be able to seek the protection of the courts so that victims don’t have to choose between their safety and the life of a cherished pet.”
With other votes, both the State Senate and Assembly gave approval for the creation of a program to keep victims’ addresses confidential. The “Safe at Home” Bill (Assembly Bill 673) establishes a system to provide mailing addresses that can be used for all official purposes by victims of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence and human trafficking who request that their physical addresses be kept confidential. The Wisconsin Department of Justice would be responsible for forwarding mail to these individuals’ actual addresses.
“The Safe at Home Bill will give victims in very high-risk cases peace of mind,” said Seger. “More importantly, it has the potential to save lives in our state. Most domestic violence homicide victims are stalked prior to the murder. The Safe at Home Bill has the potential to interrupt this potentially fatal pattern.”
In other action, legislators passed Assembly Bills 615 and 767. These proposals make improvements to the restraining order process. Assembly Bill 615 streamlines the process by which the courts and sheriffs’ departments exchange court orders and other legal documents. Under current law, victims are often responsible for transporting these papers. Assembly 767 gives courts the ability to order cell phone providers to transfer victims’ cell phones and numbers to a new account.
“Cell phones are, more and more, integral to our daily lives,” remarked Seger. “This is especially true for domestic violence survivors. They often depend on cell phones to connect with support persons during traumatic times, and they count their phones to ensure they can summon help on a moment’s notice. This legislation gives survivors more ability to regain and maintain control of their lives.”
“We are grateful to the many legislators, survivors and advocates who pushed for these important changes. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. We are hopeful that, in addition to the bills passed today, the legislature will also act on Assembly Bill 692. That bill will help give students the support they need to recognize the warning signs of abuse and to strive to create healthy relationships as they grow. Passage of AB 692 would mean that far fewer people in our state will experience the tragedy of domestic violence in the future,” concluded Seger.
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the leading voice for victims of domestic abuse in Wisconsin. At End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, we educate shelter and program volunteers and advocates, law enforcement, legislators, and community members to provide safety and support to survivors. We strive to shift Wisconsin from the attitudes and beliefs that cause domestic violence to values of mutual respect and equality, and we partner with communities in the effort to prevent and end domestic abuse.
We encourage reporters to include the National Domestic Violence Hotline number [1−800−799−SAFE(7233)] in their stories for victims who need help. A list of local Wisconsin domestic violence victim service providers can be found at http://www.endabusewi.org.
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