California

Gov. Brown Signs Sex Crime Bills Tied to Ex-Stanford Swimmer Brock Turner

The fallout from the Brock Turner sexual assault case has now changed California law.

Gov. Jerry Brown has approved two bills that emerged after the former Stanford University swimmer was sentenced to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a woman passed out near a trash bin.

The Democratic governor said Friday that he signed one bill requiring state prison time for someone convicted of assaulting an unconscious victim instead of a shorter jail sentence like the one Turner received.

The one-time Olympic hopeful was released from jail in September after serving three months for good behavior. 

The lenient sentence was due – in part – to the lack of any mandatory sentence guidelines for sexual assault cases involving unconcious victims. But newly signed legislation promises jail time.

"It guarantees that individuals like Brock Turner will go to prison in the future," said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen.

The bill was met with praise, both from Rosen and Assistant District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci, who prosecuted the case.

“Just a few months ago, we were upset, saddened by the sentence, and now the law has changed,” Kianerci said. “Women on college campuses are safer."

Having recently spoken to the victim, Kianerci believes the situation has "come full circle."

"It's really nice to be able to give her that message today," she said.

Those who authored the bill say the rules had to change.

“We as male legislators want to make it very clear that this is not OK,” said Assemblyman Evan Low. “We want to ensure that for generations of young men, that this is not tolerated."

Brown also signed a bill permitting sexual assault victims to say in court that they were raped, even if the attack doesn't meet the technical legal definition. With his approval, the definition of rape has been expanded to include all forms of nonconsensual sexual assault.

Meanwhile, Rosen has also announced plans for a symposium on campus sexual assault on Nov. 18 at Santa Clara University. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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