Senate Approves Bill Protecting Rape/Domestic Violence Victims

The State Senate has approved a bill to give more protection to victims of rape and domestic violence. House Bill 1698, the “Victims of Violent Crimes Privacy Act,” would stop court clerks and district attorneys from posting information about those victims on the Internet. The bill is authored by Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-OKC and Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta.

“I can’t imagine a worse crime for a person to go through but it is actually being made worse because every intimate, humiliating detail of these crimes is being put on the Internet, along with the victim’s name, social security number, address, and phone numbers,” Shurden said. “There have been cases where victims have been stalked, harassed and threatened because of people being able to download this information. They’ve even moved because of their information being posted, only to find that their new address and phone number are placed on the Internet too. This needs to stop.”

The measure, which has already won initial approval in the House of Representatives, now moves to a conference committee where the final version of the bill will be written.

“I want to be clear that we are not trying to protect the perpetrators of these crimes. I just feel that with all the rights criminals already have, we ought to be able to help protect individuals who have already been the victims of a terrible crime. That’s all we’re trying to do,” Shurden said.