Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the enforcement of restraining orders.

Declares that Congress should act and encourage states to act to ensure that restraining orders are uniformly enforced and to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence from perpetrators.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 382 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 382

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
                 the enforcement of restraining orders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2005

    Mrs. Capps (for herself and Mr. Nadler) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
                 the enforcement of restraining orders.

Whereas nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually 
        abused by a boyfriend or husband at some point in their lives;
Whereas intimate partner violence tends to be a pattern, rather than a one-time 
        occurrence;
Whereas domestic homicide is often the result of continuing abuse;
Whereas restraining orders are necessary to protect victims of violence from 
        further abuse and decrease the risk of continuing abuse or homicide;
Whereas nearly half of all victims who obtain restraining orders are abused 
        again;
Whereas restraining orders exist to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual 
        assault, stalking, and dating violence and include explicit instructions 
        that violation of such orders are cause for arrest;
Whereas law enforcement officials are directed to use every reasonable means to 
        enforce a restraining order;
Whereas the Supreme Court's recent decision in Castle Rock v. Gonzales narrowed 
        individuals' Federal court recourse against police for failing to 
        enforce a restraining order; and
Whereas this decision highlights the need to better protect victims of domestic 
        violence from violators of restraining orders: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
Congress should act and encourage States to act--
            (1) to ensure that restraining orders are uniformly 
        enforced; and
            (2) to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual 
        assault, stalking, and dating violence from perpetrators.
                                 <all>