Saint Paul, Minnesota – Several state lawmakers today held a State Capitol news conference, launching a broad effort to deliver justice for victims and survivors of sexual assault and other gender-based crimes. This week, the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division will hold “Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week,” a comprehensive effort over three days of hearings considering legislation to strengthen accountability and close loopholes in state law.
“Our committee’s effort this week recognizes that there are significant shortcomings throughout our system that have led too often to Minnesotans being failed when they’ve sought justice,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the committee. “Victims and survivors of gender-based violence are to be valued, and as we work together to deliver better outcomes, I look forward to taking an approach centered on their needs.”
Two of the measures are championed by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview), who is chief author of a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt policies for sexual assault investigation cases, as well as one which would create a task force directed to rewrite the state’s entire criminal sexual conduct statute. Continue reading “House Public Safety panel launches ‘Gender-Based Violence Prevention Week’; members committed to justice for victims and survivors”