Clemency Board Recommends Denial of Charles Graves’ Commutation Request The Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board voted 4–1 on March 13, 2026, to recommend that Governor Inslee deny Charles Graves’ request to commute his aggravated first-degree murder sentence, citing a lack of insight and accountability despite supporters’ testimony about his rehabilitation and poor health.

The Washington State Clemency Board has recommended denying a commutation request for Charles Graves, citing a troubling lack of accountability for his past actions despite his age and health.

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#WA #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #CriminalJustice #DomesticViolence

Victim Freed After 20 Years of Being Treated as a ‘House Slave’ Gloucester Crown Court heard that Wixon, 56, regularly beat the victim, who is now in her 40s, including with a broom handle. On one occasion, the assault knocked out her teeth.

Woman jailed for holding vulnerable victim as 'house slave' for over two decades

#HumanRights #JusticeServed #UKNews #ModernSlavery #CrimeNews #LegalUpdate #VictimSupport

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Panel backs bill to remove notice requirement that can put domestic violence survivors at risk AB1675 would eliminate court rules that require some domestic-violence survivors to notify alleged abusers before seeking temporary restraining orders. Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez and multiple committee members supported the change as a safety measure; the committee passed the bill to the floor as amended.

A groundbreaking bill has moved forward that could protect domestic violence survivors by eliminating the dangerous requirement to notify their abusers before seeking restraining orders.

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#CA #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #JudicialReform #SafetyProtections

Senate adopts substitute for SB10-62, including pilot to provide prepaid phones to domestic violence shelters The Senate adopted Senate substitute number 3 for SB10-62 and perfected the bill after approving amendments, including a pilot (subject to appropriation) allowing the Department of Social Services to grant prepaid mobile devices to domestic violence shelters and an amendment on communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The Missouri Senate just took a significant step towards supporting domestic violence survivors by approving a pilot program to provide prepaid mobile devices through shelters!

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#MO #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #SocialServices #MissouriDomesticViolence #CommunicationAccess

King County prosecutor says multidisciplinary teams close gaps left by criminal convictions in elder-abuse cases A King County elder-abuse prosecutor described two cases showing that convictions alone often leave victims without services or restitution, and said multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) using capacity evaluators, forensic accountants, case managers and money managers have improved victim outcomes.

Elder-abuse convictions may bring justice, but they often leave victims like Leon and Teresa without the support they truly need—discover how multidisciplinary teams are bridging this critical gap!

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#US #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #FinancialExploitation #MultidisciplinaryTeams

Senate approves bill to speed capital-felony proceedings and align court rules after extended debate The Senate approved first substitute H.B. 495, which sponsors said will speed up capital-felony cases by changing prescreening, appeal and post-conviction procedures, increasing counsel compensation, and coordinating court-rule amendments. The bill drew lengthy debate on legal safeguards and timing.

The Utah Senate has passed a controversial bill aimed at speeding up capital-felony cases, igniting heated debates over legal safeguards and the potential impact on justice.

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#UT #LegalReform #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport

Survivors Justice Act debate: sponsors push for judges to consider survivor status but committee declines to advance Representative Hollins introduced the Survivors Justice Act to require courts to consider whether a defendant is a survivor of domestic or sexual violence or trafficking as a mitigating factor; advocates said the change would help criminalized survivors but some members questioned scope and existing judicial discretion. A motion to re‑refer the bill to judiciary did not prevail.

The Survivors Justice Act could reshape how courts treat victims of domestic violence and trafficking, sparking a vital debate on justice and compassion in Minnesota.

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#MN #JudicialDiscretion #CriminalJusticeReform #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #MinnesotaSurvivors

Bill would broaden domestic-violence reporting and remove 72‑hour arrest window; family testimony urges change The bill would expand data reporting to DPS/BCA, broaden covered offenses and remove the 72‑hour limitation on probable‑cause arrests so officers retain authority beyond that window (staff said the change preserves the existing 'may' arrest discretion); a family member described how confusion about the 72‑hour rule contributed to a niece’s death and urged reform. The committee re‑referred the bill as amended to judiciary.

A proposed bill in Minnesota aims to overhaul domestic violence procedures, eliminating a dangerous 72-hour arrest window after a heartbreaking testimony from a family member who lost her niece to a perpetrator due to this very limitation.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport

County and Crossroads seek up to $950,000 in federal grant for human-trafficking victims County staff and Crossroads representatives said they will partner on a victim-centered human-trafficking grant application with a potential award of up to $950,000 to support safe housing, legal assistance and mental-health services; Crossroads expects to provide matching resources.

Alamance County is teaming up with Crossroads to pursue a federal grant that could provide nearly $1 million to support vital services for human trafficking victims!

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#AlamanceCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #HumanTrafficking #CommunityCare

Families Of Jeju Air Crash Victims Protest Discovery Of Additional Remains SEOUL, March 9 (Bernama-Yonhap) — The bereaved families of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash in late 2024 on Monday protested the recent discovery of additional remains and belongings of the victims in the wreckage. Yonhap News Agency reported that the families held a news conference in front of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office and residential compound in central Seoul, to condemn the “sloppy” disaster recovery process and demand an investigation into the truth and punishment for those responsible. A Jeju Air jet from Bangkok erupted into flames on Dec 29, 2024, after crashing into the localiser’s […]

Families Of Jeju Air Crash Victims Protest Discovery Of Additional Remains #JejuAirCrash #AirSafety #DisasterRecovery #VictimSupport #AviationAccident

Spanish Fort council adopts MOU with Little Tree Project to bolster human-trafficking response The council suspended rules and unanimously adopted Resolution 1583 on March 2 to authorize a memorandum of understanding with the Little Tree Project for regional training and victim-services coordination; police leadership said the partnership carries no direct cost to the city and training begins this week.

Spanish Fort City Council just made a historic move to combat human trafficking by unanimously adopting a resolution to partner with the Little Tree Project for vital training and victim support!

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#SpanishFortBaldwinCounty #AL #InteragencyCooperation #VictimSupport #PublicSafety

Lake County approves additional staff for consolidated domestic violence courtroom The Lake County board authorized new staffing to support a consolidated domestic violence courtroom, approving two new public defender positions (approx. $135,000 for the remainder of 2026) and a separate headcount for a State's Attorney victim specialist; members raised concerns about mid‑year budget requests and long‑term costs.

Lake County is stepping up to support victims by adding crucial staff to its newly consolidated domestic violence courtroom, but what does this mean for future budgeting?

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#LakeCounty #IL #LakeCountyDomesticViolence #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #JudicialReform

Judiciary committee signals support for supplemental-budget items, asks staff to send a report to Appropriations The Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary voted to record support for several supplemental-budget initiatives in a report-back memo to Appropriations — including additional baseline funding for civil legal services and higher salary floors for sexual-assault advocates — while splitting on the source of funds for public-defense shortfalls.

The Maine Judiciary Committee has just taken a bold step to support critical funding initiatives, including a $3 million boost for civil legal services and a $2 million increase for sexual-assault victim advocates.

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#ME #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #LegalServices

Colorado Senate advances consent-calendar bills, confirms appointments and lays over two measures On March 6, 2026, the Colorado State Senate passed several bills on the consent calendar — including House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 95 — confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments and laid over Senate bills 40 and 87 to March 9. Most measures advanced by voice vote or unanimous recorded tallies.

The Colorado State Senate made headlines by unanimously passing several key bills aimed at improving drug testing methods and supporting crime victims.

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#CO #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #LegislativeTransparency

Committee unanimously advances bill to make pimping and pandering felonies after survivor‑and‑law‑enforcement testimony The Judiciary Committee advanced SB 547 to reclassify pimping and pandering as felonies on a first offense, drawing testimony from a former human‑trafficking prosecutor and homicide/vice investigators who said felony sanctions better support demand‑reduction policing and victim recovery.

Georgia is stepping up its fight against human trafficking by advancing a bill that makes pimping and pandering felonies, with strong support from law enforcement and survivor advocates.

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#GA #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #HumanTrafficking #GeorgiaPandemic #LawEnforcement

FBI crisis response canine Gio to retire after nearly a decade; program expanding to Dallas and Atlanta Gio, a crisis response canine with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will retire on New Year’s Eve after about a decade helping victims in mass‑violence and violent‑crime incidents. The FBI’s Victim Services Division announced the program will station new canine teams in field offices to broaden regional response.

After nearly a decade of providing comfort and support to victims in the most challenging moments, FBI crisis response canine Gio is set to retire on New Year’s Eve, making history as the first dog to testify in federal court.

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#US #TraumaInformed #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport

Attorney general urges more funding as human‑trafficking cases and big events rise The attorney general told lawmakers the human‑trafficking unit has grown rapidly and is turning cases away, asking for $855,000 for two positions as the state prepares for major events that could increase trafficking demand.

Pennsylvania’s Attorney General warns that rising human-trafficking cases could overwhelm resources, urging lawmakers for urgent funding to protect vulnerable victims during major upcoming events.

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#PA #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #ResourceAllocation

House subcommittee advances FY27 public safety budget after rejecting amendments aimed at removing increments lacking measurable goals The House Finance Department of Public Safety Subcommittee voted 71 to move the FY27 Department of Public Safety operating budget out of subcommittee after rejecting ten amendments offered largely by Representative Prox that sought to delete specific funding increments the sponsor said lacked measurable goals under the Executive Budget Act.

The House Finance Subcommittee has advanced the FY27 public safety budget, but not without a heated debate over funding transparency and accountability.

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#AK #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #AlaskaPublicSafety

New episode of #WrongfullyYours drops Mar 17
Psychologist & #homicidesurvivor, #DrJanCanty, joins us to explore how justice systems can support victims without fueling #wrongfulconvictions. She doesn’t hold back, and neither do we.
#CriminalJusticeReform #VictimSupport #LeadershipInJustice

Senate committee backs petition for a 3‑digit human‑trafficking hotline The Senate Transportation committee recommended HB411 to the Senate floor, a bill directing Utah to join a multi‑state petition to the FCC seeking a nationwide 3‑digit human‑trafficking hotline; survivors and advocates urged the measure as a simple, accessible pathway for victims to seek help.

Utah is pushing for a revolutionary three-digit hotline for human trafficking victims, making it easier than ever to seek help in a moment of crisis.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #CrisisIntervention

New episode of #WrongfullyYours
Psychologist #DrJanCanty opens up about life after her husband’s murder and how that eventually led her into the #wrongfulconviction space.
From grief to advocacy, this episode explores what happens when justice and error collide.
#GriefAndJustice #VictimSupport

Survivors, advocates and legal-aid groups press committees for permanent funding During the public-comment period advocates and survivors urged lawmakers to make recent one‑time funding for sexual‑assault advocates permanent, sustain civil legal services funding, include OCME staff in a special retirement plan, and protect public‑defense progress, stressing workforce retention and service continuity.

Survivors and advocates in Maine are pleading for permanent funding to ensure vital support services continue, emphasizing that these resources can transform lives and protect communities.

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#ME #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #MaineHumanServices #WorkforceRetention #LegalAid

House approves 'Logan's Law' to tighten reentry supervision and insanity defenses after child's killing House Bill 4 22 (dubbed 'Logan's Law' on the floor) passed the Kentucky House with broad bipartisan support. Sponsors said the measure reforms mandatory reentry supervision for certain violent offenders, tightens insanity-defense rules, requires additional reporting and victim notice, and adjusts sentencing rules; supporters framed the bill as a response to the murder of Logan Tipton.

Kentucky's House has just passed "Logan's Law," a groundbreaking bill aimed at preventing violent offenders from slipping through the cracks of our justice system.

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#KY #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #CriminalJusticeReform

Committee backs study to use NG911 and smartphone data to help domestic‑violence victims; companion public‑records bill advances Lawmakers approved a bill to study NG911 capabilities that could allow victims to send single‑word texts, photos and GPS location to 9‑1‑1 call centers and advanced a linked public‑records exemption for participants in an address‑confidentiality program.

A groundbreaking bill aims to empower domestic-violence victims by enabling them to discreetly share emergency messages and locations via next-generation 911 technology.

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#FL #CitizenPortal #TechnologyInnovation #VictimSupport #PublicSafety

Committee advances tougher penalties and incentives to stop after crashes involving death or injury Lawmakers approved a third substitute to HB 423 aligning DUI and hit-and-run penalties so drivers who injure or kill someone while impaired are not incentivized to flee; family members of victims gave emotional testimony urging passage.

A unanimous Senate committee has taken a bold step to close loopholes that allow impaired drivers to escape justice after deadly collisions, spurred by heartbreaking testimonies from victims' families.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #PublicSafety #TrafficLaw

Committee backs crypto-ATM fraud protections with limits and warnings after victims testify The Senate committee unanimously recommended House Bill 72, which would impose daily limits and require fraud warnings on crypto-ATM kiosks to slow scams; witnesses included law enforcement, AARP and victims describing substantial losses via crypto ATMs.

Utah's Senate committee just took a bold step to protect consumers by recommending strict limits and fraud warnings for crypto ATMs after chilling testimonies from victims of scams and human trafficking.

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#UT #FraudPrevention #CryptoRegulation #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport

House advances changes to capital-felony process, prompting lengthy debate over due process and timeliness The House approved a first substitute (HB 4 95 / referred as HB 495) that tightens timelines and procedures in capital-felony appeals and competency reviews; supporters say it restores timeliness and trust, while opponents said it risks eroding protections for defendants with severe mental disabilities.

Utah's House just passed a controversial bill that could reshape capital-felony cases, igniting a fierce debate over the balance between timely justice and protecting vulnerable defendants.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #DueProcess #MentalHealthRights

Let’s work together to improve outcomes and ensure disabled victim/survivors receive the support they deserve.
#DomesticAbuseTraining #DisabilityInclusion #VictimSupport #Safeguarding #ProfessionalDevelopment #TraumaInformedPractice #AccessibilityMatters

House amends Senate bill to set one‑year reconsideration interval for parole board requests Lawmakers debated a Senate bill that would shorten the interval for parole‑reconsideration requests; the House Judiciary Committee reported a compromise amendment setting the interval at one year rather than the Senate's proposed six months, citing operational capacity and victims' concerns.

The House has just approved a pivotal amendment to a Senate bill, setting a one-year interval for parole reconsideration, igniting a heated debate on victim impact and rehabilitation opportunities.

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#US #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #RehabilitationOpportunities

Committee passes a package of public-safety bills; quick roundup of actions The Senate Public Safety Committee moved several bills forward in a single hearing, including measures on cold-case review requests, faster processing of sexual-assault kits, reporting of assault reports to OSBI, parole process changes, statutory cleanup, and private-prison inspections; roll-call tallies are provided.

The Senate Public Safety Committee just passed a groundbreaking package of bills aimed at improving justice for cold-case victims and speeding up sexual assault evidence processing.

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#OK #CitizenPortal #VictimSupport #CriminalJusticeReform #LawEnforcementAccountability