SHEBOYGAN, Wis (WHBL) -- Officials from Safe Harbor are praising a new series of laws aimed at helping the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Safe Harbor Executive Director Laura Roenitz says one of those laws will provide a victim advocate to help victims navigate the legal and medical options available to them. "The legal process can be really confusing and can take a long time, so we think it's a huge step forward and we're thankful for that change." She says it can be hard to think about those things when you're coming out of a relationship or court case and that the advocate allows for an experienced person to assist in those processes.
Another bill allow a judge to turn over control of cell phone lines to the victims of assault after a restraining order has been filed. Roenitz says it's vital to give those victims a safe way reach people. "So separating that and making it a secure number for a victim enables them to stay in touch with their family members, their support systems, in a safe way."
Other bills require sheriff's departments to improve communications with the state's victim notification program, notify victims when their attackers are sent back to jail on probation revocations, and increase the restitution available to victims.