Jamie Birdwell has a good article in The Oklahoma Gazette at http://www.okgazette.com/p/12776/a/4295/Default.aspx It is about Senate Bill 1020 that passed this spring in the Oklahoma Legislature. Authored by Senator Jonathan Nichols (R-Norman), it changes the penalty for first time domestic violence offenders.
It used to be that someone convicted of a domestic violence offense for the first time got a maximum of 1 year OR had to pay a $5,000 fine. Thanks to passage of SB 1020, now if there is a "prior pattern of physical abuse" the abuser can get up to 10 years in prison for the first time offense. Why does this matter? Because in 2008 there were 23,853 reported cases of domestic violence in Oklahoma. The state also ranks 4th in the nation in women killed by men.
I'm really happy with the state government for once with this bill. I just wish it would have been the law when my exhusband was arrested/charged with abusing me. He only got a fine and 6 months of probation even though he slit my wrist, among other things.
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