HB 3632 helps crime victims seek justice

Republican Priority Fixing Oregon’s Flawed Sex Crime Laws Clears Oregon Senate
HB 3632 expands the opportunity for victims to seek justice
By Oregon Senate Republican Office,

 

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) carried House Bill 3632 on the Senate floor, a measure increasing the time in which first degree sex crimes may be prosecuted from 12 years to 20 years. It applies to offenses committed before, on, or after the bill takes effect on January 1, 2024, but does not apply to those offenses if the statute of limitations already expired. The bill passed unanimously and now awaits a signature from the Governor.

“Senate Bill 3632 will give more survivors an opportunity for justice while holding violent offenders accountable. On the final day of the session, the Democrat majority finally joined our effort to fix Oregon’s sex crime laws after denying every effort to prioritize sexual assault victims over their perpetrators this session,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), long-time advocate and co-chief sponsor of the bill.

“In my time in the Legislature, we have taken important strides to stand with victims of sexual assault and rape, to empower them to get their lives back, and to help give closure to trauma they have suffered. We cleared the SAFE kit testing backlog and moved from 6 to 12 to now 20 years on statutes of limitations for sex crimes. Though this is a step in the right direction, we are not done. The Legislature still must prioritize funding and clear the backlog of thousands of sex offenders who have not received a risk assessment, and make sure victims have a say in that process,” said Senator Cedric Hayden (R-Fall Creek), long-time advocate and co-chief sponsor of the bill.

“Oregon’s statute of limitations on sexual assault crimes has always been grossly inadequate. It has taken several years of hard and emotional work to motivate the Legislature to take this important step in the right direction, but there is still so much work to be done. The 30,000 unclassified sex offenders yet to receive a risk assessment and inconsistent definition of ‘victim’ demand urgent action, as this will prove to survivors that they matter more than the offenders in Oregon,” said Tiffany Edens, victim of “Jogger Rapist” Richard Gillmore.

“The statute of limitations was the single deciding factor that put justice out of my reach even though Gillmore admitted to my rape and my evidence was key in his prosecution years later. I take pride and comfort in knowing women and girls who follow behind me will have the chance for the justice I was denied,” said Danielle Tudor, victim of “Jogger Rapist” Richard Gillmore.

Senate Democrats rejected attempts to make necessary fixes to Oregon’s flawed sex crime laws several times this session. In March, survivors and long-time sexual assault advocates Danielle Tudor and Tiffany Edens joined Senate Republicans to promote the following pieces of legislation:

• Senate Bill 986: Raises the statute of limitations on rape from 12 years to 20 years.
• Senate Bill 1022: Fixes Oregon’s sex-offender risk level assessment process and methodology.
• Senate Bill 1023: Clarifies the term ‘victim’ when State Police is required to release sex offender information.

In response, the Democrat chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee declared that there was not enough time to consider these bills. This while hearing bills like Senate Bill 579, a measure allowing incarcerated criminals – including rapist Richard Gillmore – to vote while still serving their prison sentences.

Then in April, Senate Democrats struck down motions to discuss SB 986, SB 1022, and SB 1023 on the Senate floor.

“Victims of rape and other sex crimes should not have to come to the Legislature and beg us to do this important work to keep them safe and hold criminals accountable,” concluded Hayden.

Justice for victims of sexual assault has remained a top priority for the Senate Republican Caucus all session long. Increasing the statute of limitations on first degree sex crimes appeared on our Equitable Oregon agenda rolled out in January.

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