The “Sexual Assault Protection Order Act” was reintroduced to the Wyoming State Legislature early last week after dying in the previous session.
The bill is designed to offer sexual assault victims more protection. According to Rep. Cathy Connolly, who introduced and avidly supports the bill, said current restriction of protection may leave many victims feeling unprotected and unsupported by their communities.
“[The bill] expands the ability of stalking victims to get protection orders when the perpetrator is someone other than a household member,” Connolly said.
Dr. Susan Dewey of the Gender and Women’s Studies Department said she would support the bill, which she said is clearly worded.
“The most important thing for a victim is knowing that the state is behind them and they have the support from their community,” Dewey said.
According to The Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) an American is sexually assaulted every two minutes.
“Factoring in unreported rapes, only about 3% of rapists will ever serve a day in prison,” RAINN said on it’s website.
With 3 percent of rapists serving time in prison, the remaining 97 percent of the rapist’s who walk free have the ability to harass the same victim again, according to RAINN. Those victims who do not know their attacker are not able to file any protection orders against them to protect themselves.
“A sexual assault order of protection would provide some safety and options to survivors who aren’t able to get what they need from the criminal justice system,” states Megan Selheim, STOP Violence Program Coordinator.
Pursuing a sexual assault case is a delicate and challenging process, according to RAINN. The organization said 60 percent of sexual assault crimes go unreported.
“I do think that many people who are victims of sexual assault want to take steps to ensure their safety,” Selheim said. “They aren’t comfortable with making a report to the police or the university. A sexual assault protection order would give those people a way to take some action that may help them feel safer without having to make an official report.”
The bill will restrain the respondent from having any contact with the petitioner directly, indirectly, through third parties, or nonphysical contact which encompasses telephone calls, mail, e-mail, texting, fax or any other form of written or electronic communication. It would take effect on July 1.
“This bill will allow the targets of violence to use our legal mechanisms to keep their perpetrators away more readily. The hope, of course, is that such a move will reduce domestic assaults and violence,” Representative Connolly said.
For further updates on the progress of this bill see The Wyoming Legislature website at www.legisweb.state.wy.us.
