Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed almost a dozen pieces of legislation into law on Friday, including a bipartisan measure to increase protections for victims of violent crimes.
The bill, House Bill 2604, extends the length of an order of protection from one year to two years after the defendant has been served.
“Arizona does not tolerate domestic abuse or violence, and we will never stop working to protect victims and their rights,” said Governor Ducey. “Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, and in the unfortunate case where there is a victim of crime, they should have the right to privacy and isolation from the offender. H.B. 2604 removes barriers to ensure further protection for individuals who are in immediate and present danger of domestic violence, providing them peace of mind. Thank you to Representative Bolick for sponsoring this vital bill.”
Additionally, the new law will elongate the time of an emergency order of protection to seven calendar days and grants specific individuals the power to issue an emergency order under certain circumstances. For example, in a town with less than 150,000 people, a judge, justice of the peace, magistrate, or commissioner can grant the order if the courts are closed.
“By doubling the duration of an order of protection, victims can feel safe and secure for longer without the burdens of a judicial process,” said State Representative Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix), who sponsored the legislation. “H.B. 2604 is common sense to improve the safety of survivors and protect them from revictimization. My thanks to Governor Ducey for signing this critical legislation.”
The legislation was passed unanimously by the state Senate and House of Representatives.
In addition to this bill, Ducey signed 10 other measures into law.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
