Protecting victims of sexual assault
Sexual assault protection orders provide security to victims of sexual assault who fear future harm from their attacker. While these protection orders are available in Washington state, the process can be difficult for victims. Under current law, victims of sexual assault can only be granted a protection order for up to two years. Although an order can be renewed, this means every two years sexual assault victims must petition the court, relive their trauma and confront their assailants.
To provide relief to victims I’ve introduced House Bill 1384. The bill, which will remove the time limit on sexual assault protection orders and streamline the process, recently passed the House on a 76-21 vote. House Bill 1384 now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
Learn more about protecting victims of sexual assault and how my bill will provide victim’s relief in this week’s GoodMinute.
Helping victims of human trafficking
Hundreds of scared men, women and children are recruited, transported and sold in Washington state each year. Human trafficking, one of the fastest growing criminal industries, has taken root in our state. Washington became the first state to pass a law criminalizing human trafficking in 2003. Since then, the Legislature has passed nearly 40 laws to address aspects of trafficking, such as last session’s legislation to increase penalties for johns and traffickers.
Washington has made progress in the fight against human trafficking, but there is more that can be done. House Democrats have introduced multiple measures that will aid human trafficking victims by allowing them to get justice and rebuild their lives.
Victims of human trafficking are often reluctant to go to the police or too traumatized by their experience to come forward right away. My colleague Rep. Mike Pellicciotti introduced a bill (HB 1078) that extends the statute of limitations for human trafficking to 10 years rather than three, allowing more time for those who survive human trafficking to get justice.
Rep. Tina Orwall has sponsored two bills this session to strengthen our state’s human trafficking laws. HB 1079 protects victims by allowing criminal no-contact orders against their traffickers, who have often used threats or coercion to manipulate their victims. To help victims move on and remove barriers to finding a job or housing, HB 1112 allows survivors to have their prostitution convictions vacated.
All best wishes,
Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature