Today, the House Judiciary committee has a hearing on House Bill 465, which would discourage sex offenders from using the courts to silence survivors.
Sexual assault continues to be one of the most under-reported and under-prosecuted crimes in Maryland and across the country. The National Crime Victimization Survey (2010-2016) found that when the offender was a friend or acquaintance, 61% of completed rapes, 71% of attempted rapes, and 82% of other sexual assaults were not reported. When the offender was a stranger, 54% of completed rapes, 44% of attempted rapes, and 34% of other sexual assaults were not reported to the police. When sexual assaults are not reported, sex offenders go free.
Civil lawsuits are increasingly being used as a weapon to threaten, silence, intimidate, and dissuade survivors of sexual assault from speaking out against their abusers and exposing predators.
HB465 would change this by shifting the process from one where the survivor-defendant has to prove that they are telling the truth, to requiring the plaintiff to prove that the report of sexual assault was recklessly false or malicious. The burden would be low, requiring only preponderance of evidence.
HB465 will reduce retaliatory lawsuits while preserving access to the courts.
Please ask the House Judiciary Committee to support HB465 to stop silencing survivors!
MARYLAND HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Leadership:
Sandy Bartlett, Chair (District 32, Anne Arundel County)
Phone: 410-841-3370 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3370
[email protected]
Debra Davis, Vice Chair (District 28, Charles County)
Phone: 410-841-3337 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3337
[email protected]
Members:
Anne Arundel County
LaToya Nkongolo (District 31, Anne Arundel)
Phone: 410-841-3510 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3510
[email protected]
Gary Simmons (District 12B, Anne Arundel)
Phone: 410-841-3581 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3581
[email protected]
Baltimore City
Frank M. Conaway, Jr. (District 40, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3189 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3189
[email protected]
Elizabeth Embry (District 43A, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3638 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3638
[email protected]
Sean Stinnett (District 41, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3268 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3268
[email protected]
Baltimore County
Jon S. Cardin (District 11B, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3054 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3054
[email protected]
Nino Mangione (District 42A, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3258 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3258
[email protected]
N. Scott Phillips (District 10, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3358 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3358
[email protected]
Frederick County
Karen Simpson (District 3, Frederick)
Phone: 410-841-3436 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3436
[email protected]
Frederick & Carroll Counties
Christopher Bouchat (District 5, Frederick & Carroll)
Phone: 410-841-3200 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3200
[email protected]
Harford County
Lauren Arikan (District 7B, Harford)
Phone: 410-841-3334 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3334
[email protected]
Susan McComas (District 34B, Harford)
Phone: 410-841-3272 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3272
[email protected]
Howard County
Gabriel Moreno (District 13, Howard)
Phone: 410-841-3471 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3471
[email protected]
Montgomery County
David Moon (District 20, Montgomery)
Phone: 410-841-3474 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3474
[email protected]
Prince George's County
Kym Taylor (District 23, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3557 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3331
[email protected]
Nicole A. Williams (District 22, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3058 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3058
[email protected]
Jamila Woods (District 26, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3544 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3544
[email protected]
Washington & Frederick Counties
William Valentine (District 2A, Washington & Frederick)
Phone: 410-841-3636 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3636
[email protected]
