Thursday, April 26, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt, Gibbons Advocate for Legislation to Better Protect Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Victims
Blunt Proclaims Crime Victims' Rights Week
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt and Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons today urged the General Assembly to pass legislation to enhance protections for sexual assault and domestic violence victims. At a Capitol ceremony Blunt marked Crime Victims' Rights Week and stood with women's and community groups in support of Senate Bill 429.
"I applaud Senator Gibbons for his leadership on this issue and call on the legislature to pass his comprehensive bill to ensure that victims of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault are provided appropriate protections under the law," Gov. Matt Blunt said. "I have signed some of the harshest penalties for sex offenders in the entire nation and we should take steps to enact additional legal protections for those victimized by violent criminals."
"In 2005, nearly 1,500 women reported being raped and nearly 40,000 reported being victims of domestic violence in Missouri. Even more alarming, experts say only 1 out of 10 sexual assaults are reported and only half of domestic abuse cases are reported," said Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons. "We must protect victims so they feel more comfortable and safe to come forward to seek help and justice."
"This expansive bill will provide Missouri women victimized by sexual and domestic violence with crucial support and essential protections in law," said Colleen Coble, Executive Director of Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. "Ensuring that victims of sexual assault no longer have to pay for the costs of evidence collection-the only crime victims who must do so-is long overdue. Also, the bill's protection of communications among sexual assault survivors and advocates at rape crisis centers is an important element of every community's response to sexual violence."
Senate Bill 429, sponsored by Gibbons, will strengthen laws to protect rape and sexual assault victims. It will ensure victims are not forced to pay for a rape kit and collection of evidence used in the prosecution of their case, increases the penalties for repeat domestic violence abusers from 5 to 15 years in prison to 10 to 30 years or life in prison, and protects victims' confidentiality among other measures.
At the ceremony the governor presented a proclamation declaring April 22-28 Crime Victims' Rights Week and encouraging all Missourians to ensure that crime victims are treated with compassion and given the support they deserve to help overcome their experience.
"As governor, I have worked to enhance public safety and enact strong laws to protect Missouri families from falling victim to a crime," Blunt said. "Missouri will continue to offer support to crime victims and ensure they are provided the rights to which they are entitled."
Since taking office the governor has worked to enact stronger penalties for criminals and ensure that Missouri's law enforcement has the tools they need to effectively keep our neighborhoods safe. Blunt called for and signed tough sex offender legislation ensuring that Missouri has some of the strongest sex offender laws in the nation. Missouri's version of Jessica's Law created the Internet Cyber Crime Grant program to assist law enforcement officials in investigating dangerous Internet crimes to stop predators from exploiting children. Missouri also was one of the first states in the country to mandate lifetime GPS monitoring for criminals convicted of certain sex offenses against children.
Blunt has taken steps to help combat Missouri's methamphetamine epidemic. The governor signed legislation to keep the key ingredients needed to produce meth out of the hands of individuals who make this dangerous drug. Missouri's new meth law has led to a significant drop in the number of meth incidents in Missouri.
Blunt has also signed legislation that established the crime of financially exploiting the elderly when damages total more than $50,000 as a class A felony, created two new classes for repeat DWI offenders, expanded the number of offenses that apply to the child placement prohibition and created new guidelines when one child is abusing another child to protect the child who is being abused.