AB 812 (Garcia, Cristina) - Support
CRIME VICTIMS UNITED
The Voice for Victims and Public Safety
May 18, 2021
Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia
State Capitol, Room 2013
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: ASSEMBLY BILL 812 (GARCIA, Cristina) - SUPPORT
Dear Assemblywoman Garcia:
On behalf of Crime Victims United, I want to inform you of our strong support to Assembly Bill 812. AB 812 addresses a critical loophole in the law that discriminates against victims of crime based on their marital status and protects some our most vulnerable victims of crime.
Victims of sexual assault are some of the most vulnerable in our society and suffer great emotional trauma, especially when the assailant holds a position of trust. Persons engaged in intimate marital relationships are in the highest degree of trust and thus the most vulnerable to be victims by tehri partner. However, a martial victim of sexual assault is treated lesser in our criminal justice system based on their status as a spouse. This archaic rule of law is unacceptable.
AB 812 seeks to remedy this discriminatory loophole in the law by removing the requirement of "spouse" from spousal rape and aligning the penalties to be consistent with rape as defined in the penal Code. This bill is critical to bringing protection to many of California's citizens and bringing equality under the law to all sexual assault victims.
For these reasons we are strongly support to AB 812. If you have questions or would like to further discussion, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Nina Salarno-Besselman
President