Protective orders; makes numerous changes to laws governing family abuse and stalking, penalty. (HB2422)

Introduced By

Del. David Toscano (D-Charlottesville)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Protective orders; definition of family abuse; dating violence; penalty.  Makes numerous changes to the laws governing family abuse protective orders and stalking protective orders, including (i) amending the definition of "family abuse" to specifically include assault, stalking, sexual assault, forceful detention, and intentional damage to real or personal property with the intent to intimidate or control; (ii) expanding the availability of stalking protective orders to any person who has been a victim of "dating violence" or an "act of violence"; and (iii) providing that if both parties file for a protective order, the court may issue mutual orders upon finding by clear and convincing evidence that both parties have committed, and are likely to commit in the future, conduct justifying the issuance of an order. The bill also harmonizes certain provisions regarding the violation of a family abuse protective order and a stalking protective order, including making the penalties for violating the orders consistent, to wit: (i) any person convicted of a second violation of a protective order, when the offense is committed within five years of a conviction for a prior offense and when either the instant or prior offense was based on an act or threat of violence, shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 60 days; (ii) any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense, when such offense is committed within 20 years of the first conviction and when either the instant or any of the prior offenses was based on an act or threat of violence, is guilty of a Class 6 felony and punishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months; (iii) any person who commits an assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury upon a person protected by a protective order is guilty of a Class 6 felony; and (iv) any person who violates a protective order by furtively entering the home of the protected party while such party is present or enters and remains in such home until the protected party arrives is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides that any person convicted of violating a protective order for which no mandatory minimum sentence is specified shall be sentenced to a term of confinement and shall not have his entire sentence suspended. Read the Bill »

Status

02/04/2011: Merged into HB2063

History

DateAction
01/18/2011Presented and ordered printed 11103613D
01/18/2011Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/19/2011Assigned Courts sub: #1 Criminal
01/19/2011Impact statement from VCSC (HB2422)
01/27/2011Assigned Courts sub: #1 Criminal
02/02/2011Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB2063-Bell, Robert B.)
02/04/2011Incorporated by Courts of Justice (HB2063-Bell, Robert B.)