Committee supports adding domestic violence to violent offender registry

OKLAHOMA CITY –. Nearly seven out of every 1,000 Oklahomans were the victim of domestic violence in 2020, a sobering statistic Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, wants to change through Senate Bill 1568. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved his bill Tuesday to add domestic abuse, domestic assault or domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, or domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon, to the list of crimes required to be registered under the Mary Rippy Violent Crime Offenders Registration Act.          

“Oklahoma saw the highest number of domestic violence reports in two decades last year with 61 people dying at the hands of their domestic abuser. We also continually rank among states with the highest rates of women killed by men,” Brooks said. “We’ve got to strengthen our laws to better protect Oklahomans and prevent these horrible crimes. By adding those convicted of domestic violence to the violent offender registry, we can better track those with violent histories while better protecting the public.”

According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, nearly 27,100 domestic violence reports were made to law enforcement agencies around the state, including murder, threats, assaults, and sexual crimes.

Created in 2004, the Mary Rippy Violent Crime Offenders Registration Act requires those convicted of specified violent crimes be required to register with the Department of Corrections or local law enforcement, depending upon their case status, for 10 years after completion of their suspended sentence or term of incarceration. The act further requires notice of address changes, employment, and school enrollment be made by registrants.

“This public registry not only helps law enforcement officials track violent individuals but provides a way for citizens to check out potential partners before getting into a potentially dangerous relationship,” Brooks said. “Adding domestic violence cases to this database will help better protect public safety while preventing future unnecessary deaths or violence.”

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through the use of fear and intimidation, often including the threat or actual use of violence.  It can include emotional, economic, and sexual abuse as well as threats, using children, male privilege, intimidation, isolation, or a variety of other behaviors to maintain fear, intimidation, power, and control. 

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that on average, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S. every minute. One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner, including slapping, shoving, and pushing, while one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence, such as beating, burning and strangling, in their lifetime.

SB 1568 now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

Sen. Brooks: (405) 521-5557 or Michael.Brooks@oksenate.gov