Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, has introduced a new bill aimed at improving communication between sexual assault victims and law enforcement. As reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Ford, a former police officer, filed House Bill 2705, which would require law enforcement agencies to inform victims about the status of forensic evidence collected in their cases.
The bill, set for discussion in the upcoming legislative session starting Feb. 3. "Sexual assault is a horrific crime that already steals too much from victims. This measure is intended to at least give them the peace of mind in knowing whether a law enforcement agency has forensic evidence in their possession and the status of that evidence being processed and potentially matched with the perpetrator of the crime," Ford stated in the Oklahoma House of Representatives release.
HB2705 would also ensure that victims are notified if their forensic evidence has yielded a DNA profile, if that profile has been entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Database, and if there is a match with a profile in the database.
Ford's current bill builds on his previous efforts, such as House Bill 4374, which expanded access to protective orders, and House Bill 3863, which helped domestic violence victims secure safe housing by exempting them from certain financial requirements.
If passed and signed into law, HB2705 would take effect on Nov. 1. The bill also ensures that evidence not disclosed would be kept confidential if it could affect ongoing criminal investigation.
