At Oklahoma Capitol Bill Providing Sentencing Relief for Child Trafficking, Abuse Survivors Ceremonially Signed

Stoneleigh Fellow Sara Kruzan recently appeared with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who signed a new bill softening punishments for sexually assaulted or trafficked victims who retaliate against their abusers.

Legislation allowing Oklahoma courts to adjust the punishment of an offender who was trafficked, sexually abused or assaulted by the victim was ceremonially signed on Friday.

Governor Kevin Stitt, chief executive officer of Oklahoma affixed his signature in the presence of the legislative sponsor, a former legislator who now leads an organization working to fight trafficking, and a woman who suffered victimization as a teen-ager.

House Bill 2210, authored by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, states that the offender must have been a minor convicted as an adult for the offense and that the abuse by the victim must have occurred within 90 days. The court may depart from the mandatory minimum sentence, suspend any portion of the sentence or transfer the minor to the juvenile division for further proceedings.

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