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September 09, 2005
Landmark Child Sexual Abuse Bill Passes in California
SACRAMENTO - The California legislature passed legislation last night that supporters describe as "landmark reform," reversing a 23-year policy that let child sexual abusers avoid prison and encouraged them to reunify with their victims instead.
The "Circle of Trust bill" (S.B. 33) -- introduced by Senator Jim Battin (R-La Quinta) and sponsored by the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT) -- makes sweeping changes to how California's child sexual abuse laws are applied to children victimized by family members, the single largest group of sexual abuse victims. It closes loopholes that allow the most serious sexual predators to avoid prison as long as their victim is a child in the home.
"This is more than just another tough-on-crime bill," said Betsy Salkind, California director of PROTECT. "This is a historic change in the way California responds to sexual crimes against children."
The bipartisan bill was authored by Battin and Senator Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno) and was co-authored by Senator Elaine Alquist and Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn, both Democrats from San Jose. It was also given crucial political support by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).
The Circle of Trust bill faced powerful opposition in both the Senate and the Assembly, nearly being declared dead twice and earning the nickname, the "miracle bill." But a coalition of over 40 groups endorsed the bill, including the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence, the California District Attorneys Association, Prevent Child Abuse California, Bikers Against Child Abuse and several city and county councils and boards.
"We who have been raped by our own flesh and blood will no longer tolerate being treated as someone's 'personal problem,' 'a private matter,' or as the acceptable collateral damage of some misguided therapeutic experiment," said Alison Arngrim, who starred on "Little House on the Prairie" and testified on behalf of the bill.
With the passage of S.B. 33, California becomes the fifth state to close loopholes favoring family members who sexual assault children. "This is historic reform," said Grier Weeks, executive director of PROTECT. "It's real prevention."
The National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT) is a nonpartisan pro-child, anti-crime organization with members in 50 states and 9 nations. PROTECT fights for tougher laws against child abuse and more help for child victims. For more information visit: http://www.protect.org
Posted by Nealus at September 9, 2005 10:25 AM
