A Victory for Women

California Assembly Passes Kathy’s Law

Bill grants judges ability to order GPS Monitoring in Domestic Violence Cases Sacramento, Calif. (May 30, 2012) –

Today, the California State Assembly approved a bill authored by Assembly member Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) that would allow judges to place GPS monitoring devices on a perpetrator in certain domestic violence cases, in conjunction with the issuance of a restraining order. The bill which received bipartisan support, is named Kathy’s Law after a Carlsbad woman, Kathy Scharbarth, who is believed to have been murdered by her ex-boyfriend in November 2011. Kathy had a restraining order against her perpetrator, which he violated numerous times before he strangled her. “It’s time for California to protect victims of domestic violence and stalking crimes and turn restraining orders into real and tangible protections,” said Hueso. “We can’t just sit by and watch while people in our community live in constant fear for their lives.” Thousands of protective orders are issued every year yet the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that over one-half of them are violated. Three women are killed every day due to domestic violence in this country. Every year, about 1.5 million women in the U.S. are raped or physically assaulted by a partner or spouse. San Diego County alone received about 20,000 calls each year to law enforcement for domestic violence. Stalking affects 3.4 million adults in the United States each year. “Technology has notoriously been a means by which abusers stalk and keep track of their victims; this bill would be an opportunity for victims to turn the tables and use technology to improve their safety, and the safety of their children,” said Kathy Lembo, CEO of South Bay Community Services. “The more we improve the tools available to survivors of domestic violence, the greater our ability to keep families safe.” Kathy’s law will make the perpetrators responsible for their violence by requiring them to pay for the costs associated with the use of GPS. The GPS device would be linked to a beeper provided to the victim. This technology will be monitored by law enforcement and violations will be recorded. The bill would allow for the GPS monitoring for up to one year from the date the order is issued and may be renewed if the court deems it necessary. Ben Hueso, is the Assemblymember for the 79th District, representing portions of San Diego, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City and Coronado.