"The process [to terminate a rapist's parental rights] would require the victim to take action in civil court. 'There’s still due process,' said Abigail Marsh, legal director of legal services at the Life Crisis Center in Salisbury, Md. and supporter of the bill. 'It’s not as though this is an automatic thing. She still has to go the court, file a complaint with the court, after an evidentiary hearing the court would find whether or not there was clear and convincing evidence that a sexual assault did occur and whether parental rights could be terminated.' As the law stands now, adoption requires the consent of both parents to move forward with the process. [Delegate Kathleen] Dumais said the reason this bill would change that process, in these instances, is because that consent can often be used by the rapist as a bargaining chip to persuade the victim not to press charges, or as a way to get back at the victim for pressing charges. -Julian Sadur, WMDT
MARYLAND SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE PHONE AND EMAILS:
Baltimore County Robert A. (Bobby) Zirkin, Chair (D-11) Phone: (410) 841-3131 | (301) 858-3131 E-mail: [email protected]