Last week Washington State legislatures outlined a package of bills designed to close legal gaps for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These legislative efforts have come during a period of cuts to federal funding that could jeopardize: (1) grants that support survivor advocacy programs, (2) forensic exams and (3) prosecution efforts in our criminal justice system. Lawmakers say coercion and control can shape survivors’ criminalized behavior and must be stopped.
One of the bills highlighted last week, Senate Bill 5169, seeks to clarify when courts may admit recorded or documented statements from children in certain abuse cases. The change, it is postulated, would reduce the need for young victims to repeatedly recount traumatic experiences while also maintaining a defendant’s constitutional rights. Another bill, House Bill 1591, would allow certain defendants who are themselves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking to seek to vacate convictions directly tied to their alleged abuse.
Washington’s crackdown on domestic violence and sexual assault is very real. Folks facing these types of allegations, rightly or wrongly, need to be prepared for battles within our legal justice system. Small offenses are dealt with by the government with the same vigor and vitriol as large ones. The net has been cast wide and encompasses a lot of behavior, egregious and otherwise.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 or (206) 441-0900.