Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown marked the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month by highlighting the laws. Brown, who leads the administration's initiatives to reduce domestic violence, spearheaded efforts to pass the three-bill domestic violence package during the 2014 Legislative Session.
"Domestic violence does not discriminate. Its impact is felt in every community regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, or gender," Brown said. "This month we come together to raise awareness of this senseless crime and recommit ourselves to the effort to eliminate it. These new laws are an important part of our continued progress to protect women and children from domestic violence, but our work is not complete until every Marylander is free from fear in their home or in their community."
Maryland was the only state that requires victims to meet a higher standard of "clear and convincing evidence" in order to obtain a peace or protective order. The new laws now reduce that standard to a "preponderance of the evidence."
Of the nearly 5,300 final peace or protective orders that were denied last year alone, 3,500 of those were because the victim could not meet the standard of "clear and convincing evidence." This important change, which takes effect Wednesday, will ensure more victims of domestic violence have access to the protections they need, officials said.
Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/3-new-domestic-violence-laws-added-to-maryland-books/28353382#ixzz3HBeU44KR
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