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H.B. 227

             1     

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISMISSAL

             2     
AMENDMENT

             3     
1999 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Afton B. Bradshaw

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO THE COHABITANT ABUSE PROCEDURES ACT; ELIMINATING
             7      ABILITY OF COURTS TO DISMISS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES SOLELY AT THE
             8      REQUEST OF THE VICTIM.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          77-36-2.7, as last amended by Chapter 244, Laws of Utah 1996
             12      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             13          Section 1. Section 77-36-2.7 is amended to read:
             14           77-36-2.7. Dismissal -- Diversion prohibited -- Plea in abeyance -- Release before
             15      trial.
             16          (1) Because of the serious nature of domestic violence, the court, in domestic violence
             17      actions:
             18          (a) may not dismiss any charge or delay disposition because of concurrent divorce or other
             19      civil proceedings;
             20          (b) may not require proof that either party is seeking a dissolution of marriage before
             21      instigation of criminal proceedings;
             22          (c) shall waive any requirement that the victim's location be disclosed other than to the
             23      defendant's attorney, upon a showing that there is any possibility of further violence, and order the
             24      defendant's attorney not to disclose the victim's location to his client;
             25          (d) shall identify, on the docket sheets, the criminal actions arising from acts of domestic
             26      violence; and
             27          [(e) may not dismiss a charge involving domestic violence at the request of the victim


             28      unless the court has reasonable cause to believe that the dismissal would benefit the victim; and]
             29          [(f)] (e) may hold a plea in abeyance, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2a,
             30      making treatment or any other requirement for the defendant a condition of that status.
             31          (2) When the court holds a plea in abeyance in accordance with Subsection (1)[(f)] (e), the
             32      case against a perpetrator of domestic violence may be dismissed only if the perpetrator
             33      successfully completes all conditions imposed by the court. If the defendant fails to complete any
             34      condition imposed by the court under Subsection (1)[(f)] (e), the court may accept the defendant's
             35      plea.
             36          (3) (a) Because of the likelihood of repeated violence directed at those who have been
             37      victims of domestic violence in the past, when any defendant charged with a crime involving
             38      domestic violence is released from custody before trial, the court authorizing the release may issue
             39      an order:
             40          (i) enjoining the defendant from threatening to commit or committing acts of domestic
             41      violence or abuse against the victim and any designated family or household member;
             42          (ii) prohibiting the defendant from harassing, telephoning, contacting, or otherwise
             43      communicating with the victim, directly or indirectly;
             44          (iii) removing and excluding the defendant from the victim's residence and the premises
             45      of the residence;
             46          (iv) ordering the defendant to stay away from the residence, school, place of employment
             47      of the victim, and the premises of any of these, or any specified place frequented by the victim and
             48      any designated family member; and
             49          (v) ordering any other relief that the court considers necessary to protect and provide for
             50      the safety of the victim and any designated family or household member.
             51          (b) Violation of an order issued pursuant to this section is punishable as follows:
             52          (i) if the original arrest or subsequent charge filed is a felony, an offense under this section
             53      is a third degree felony; and
             54          (ii) if the original arrest or subsequent charge filed is a misdemeanor, an offense under this
             55      section is a class A misdemeanor.
             56          (c) The court shall provide the victim with a certified copy of any order issued pursuant
             57      to this section if the victim can be located with reasonable effort.
             58          (4) When a court dismisses criminal charges or a prosecutor moves to dismiss charges


             59      against a defendant accused of a domestic violence offense, the specific reasons for dismissal shall
             60      be recorded in the court file and made a part of the statewide domestic violence network described
             61      in Section 30-6-8 .
             62          (5) When the privilege of confidential communication between spouses, or the testimonial
             63      privilege of spouses is invoked in any criminal proceeding in which a spouse is the victim of an
             64      alleged domestic violence offense, the victim shall be considered to be an unavailable witness
             65      under the Utah Rules of Evidence.
             66          (6) The court may not approve diversion for a perpetrator of domestic violence.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-6-99 11:33 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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