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Governor approves crime victims bill joint authored by Senator Joel Anderson

SACRAMENTO – Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) has announced he is pleased Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 130 (SB 130) that he joint authored with Democrat Senator Ellen Corbett. The bill expands the list of crimes to help victims in court by allowing them to have people to support them while testifying.

“This bill ensures that victims are provided with comfort and support during a difficult time,” said Anderson. “I am standing up for this measure so that crime victims have someone standing up for them when they are testifying and sometimes reliving traumatic and terrifying events.”

SB 130 would allow up to two people to accompany the person testifying, and the bill extends the list of crimes to include cases involving kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery or specified sex offenses, assault with intent to commit certain felonies, human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault of a child, certain sex offenses involving a minor under 10 years of age, criminal threats, and stalking.

Current law only allows extra support persons in the courtroom for crimes such as murder, mayhem, felony assault, and sexual assault of children.

“When a woman has to face her attacker for the first time since the crime – it can sometimes be horrifying,” said Anderson. “Having someone there to sit with her and comfort her, takes away some of that fear and provides a secure and safe environment.”

Senator Anderson is vice-chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee and represents the 36th Senate District which includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties.

 

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