New Domestic Violence Law Signed by Governor

The vote was unanimous.

Three domestic violence bills authored by a South Bay assemblywoman had the support of the entire assembly and senate. The governor signed them into law as a San Jose family awaits justice for a young mother whose husband is charged in her death.

A San Jose family says a 29-year old mother might still be here today, if she could've kept her husband away.

They say a new domestic violence law changes the enforcement of protective orders and could be the difference between life and death.

Sophia Salinas’ sister Valerie Calderon Casillas was murdered October 2, 2011.

Her body dumped on Sierra Road in East San Jose. Valerie was a mother of five and pregnant.

Valerie’s accused killer was her 23-year old husband Marcus Casillas.

Salinas said she hasn’t seen any sign of remorse from Casillas “There’s times he’ll even smirk and it’s devastating. It hurts,” Salinas added.

Salinas says a new domestic violence law requiring police to enforce the most stringent restraining order, instead of the most recent, could have protected her sister and herself from their abusive husbands.

“A lot of times my husband or my sister’s husband would stick around when the cops came and they’d try to flip on us and say there was a peaceful order and the cops would just ask them to leave and they‘d leave for a few hours and show back up and start up again,” Salinas said.

San Jose Assemblywoman Nora Campos authored the bill that prevents abusers from intimidating victims on social media or threatening to drop their insurance policies to keep them from leaving.

“We never know why an abuser does what they do I think what these laws will do is protect the victim a little bit more,” Campos said.

Salinas says the law she’d like to see, is one requiring counseling for domestic violence victims so they understand their rights and gain the strength to leave and break the cycle.

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