ATLANTA — State Representative Alex Atwood (R- Brunswick) recently received the Georgia Commission on Family Violence’s (GCFV) Legislative Leadership Award. GCFV chose Rep. Atwood for the award because of his sponsorship and successful passage of Senate Bill 86 which provides additional protections for family violence victims.
“It is an honor to be recognized by GCFV for my efforts in sponsoring SB 86,” said Rep. Atwood. “This legislation enables our dedicated law enforcement officers to increase protection for domestic violence victims.”
Rep. Atwood was presented with the Legislative Leadership Award on December 12, 2013 at the Glynn County Task Force Against Family Violence meeting. The award was presented by GCFV’s Chair Judge Stephen Kelley, Superior Courts, Brunswick Judicial Circuit; Commission member Valerie Williams; and Mr. Greg Loughlin, Executive Director, GCFV.
Senate Bill 86 was signed into law by Governor Deal in 2013 and authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest abusers for violating no-contact orders in Family Violence bond and probation conditions. Prior to SB 86, law enforcement could not arrest abusers who violated no-contact orders unless they were arrested for aggravated stalking, or if law enforcement sought to revoke the abuser’s bond or probation.
Additionally, SB 86 creates a new option for law enforcement by adding violations of bond and probation conditions to the misdemeanor crime of violating a family violence order. This addition allows law enforcement officers to respond to abusers who violate court orders by engaging in non-violent contact, rather than either walking away from a dangerous situation to request a warrant or making an inappropriate felony charge of aggravated stalking when the facts do not support that charge.
“Rep. Atwood’s hard work in the last legislative session will make Georgia a safer place for thousands of victims of domestic violence every year,” said Ms. Mary Torres, Executive Director of Amity House in Brunswick. “SB 86 allows law enforcement to act quickly and in a meaningful way when offenders violate court orders.”
Ms. Torres noted, “Family violence offenders who disregard court orders are especially dangerous. SB 86 promotes swift and consistent sanctions when perpetrators continue to harass and stalk their victims.”
Judge Kelley lauded Rep. Atwood’s efforts on behalf of victims of domestic violence saying, “As a Judge and Chairman of the Commission, I want to acknowledge and recognize Rep. Atwood. His determination to give law enforcement the tools they need to stop the cycle of violence will not only benefit countless numbers of victims but all the citizens of Georgia by making Georgia a safer place to live.”
The Georgia Commission on Family Violence is a state agency that was created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1992 to develop a comprehensive state plan for ending family violence in Georgia. For more information on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, please visit www.gcfv.org. For more information on SB 86, please click here.
Representative Alex Atwood represents the citizens of District 179, which includes portions of Glynn County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves as the Vice Chair of Juvenile Justice, and as the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. He also serves on the Appropriations, Insurance, and Judiciary Non-Civil committees.
###