WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsAssembly passes five bills protecting domestic abuse and sexual assault victims

Assembly passes five bills protecting domestic abuse and sexual assault victims

MADISON (WKOW) -- Domestic abuse victims could find some comfort in a number of bills passed by the State Assembly late Thursday afternoon.

Five bills passed protect domestic abuse and sexual assault victims.

Advocates say the first step in getting out of an abusive relationship is finding safe housing.

State lawmakers passed a bill ensuring landlords will not discriminate against victims of domestic violence.

Dane County domestic abuse advocates say it's more often than you'd think, that victims are denied housing, because of their situation.

Shannon Barry, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services Executive Director, says, "Access to safe and affordable housing is one of the biggest barriers domestic violence victims face, when trying to separate, and this would just remove another barrier for them to achieve safety."

Also approved in the assembly, a bill that would require landlords to give permission to tenants to change the locks on a home if they're in a dangerous situation.

The tenant would have to pay for the lock change.

Barry says often Dane County Intervention Services pays for lock changes that can run upwards of $100 dollars.

Advocates say if a landlord changes the locks it would cost intervention services less than $30-dollars, saving the program hundreds of dollars.

Those bills and others will now head to the Senate floor.

Below you'll find a release from Rep. Mike Sheridan's office... regarding each bill passed.

Sheridan: Assembly Approves Protections for Domestic Violence, Sex Crime Victims

MADISON – Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) today applauded the Assembly’s bipartisan passage of five bills, aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual crimes.

“Each year in Wisconsin, police respond to 25,000 reports of domestic abuse.  And, according to reporting records, someone in Wisconsin is sexually assaulted approximately every hour-and-a-half,” said Sheridan.  “These sobering statistics show that violence against women is still far too common, and that the state must do more to protect victims.”

One of the domestic violence bills approved on the Assembly floor today gives law enforcement the ability to lock up abusers, if they try to contact their victims and violate the terms of their release.  The Victim Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, as they look for safe housing.  Studies show that victims are often denied housing or offered less desirable rental terms because some landlords may misplace blame for the instances of abuse.  Another bill approved today, The Lock Out Abusers Act, requires that landlords change the locks on a victim’s apartment within 48 hours of a request.

“After an attack, one of a victim’s most basic needs is a safe place to stay,” said Sheridan.  “With the help of responsible landlords, we can give victims some peace of mind and a sense of security.”

Two other bills approved today are aimed at protecting victims of sex crimes.  Under The Video Voyeurism Act, judges could order people to register as sex offenders, if they take nude photos of someone without their consent.  The Sexual Assault Victim Privacy Protection Act would prevent a defendant in a civil or criminal rape case from introducing irrelevant information about a victim’s sexual history.

“Today, we’ve taken important steps to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep victims safe, after an attack.  We’ve passed reforms to prevent prejudice and protect victims’ privacy.  In the process, we hope we’re helping victims come forward and report without fear of judgment, discrimination or continued abuse.”

Sheridan noted that the Assembly also passed a resolution today, officially recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.