Courts could bar convicted people from contacting victims for life

At sentencing, the court would have to issue an order barring contact if the victim or prosecutor asks. The listed offenses include homicide, serious violence, stalking, kidnapping, trafficking, sexual offenses, and certain offenses involving children. The defendant must be convicted of an offense listed in the text. For the offense involving obscene or other sexual materials or performances, the victim must be a minor. The act would take effect 30 days after enactment.

A victim who did not ask at sentencing could later petition the court for an order. The petition is for a victim whose defendant was sentenced for an offense listed in the text. For a minor victim, a parent, legal guardian, or other lawful representative may file. Filing the petition and serving an issued order would be free to the victim. The act would take effect 30 days after enactment.

An order would last for the defendant’s lifetime unless the court ends it under a stated exception. This applies to an order issued under this section. The defendant may ask the court to end the order if the victim has died, the conviction was dismissed, expunged, or overturned, or the defendant was pardoned. The victim may ask in writing for the order to end early; the court may hold a hearing to check the request. The act would take effect 30 days after enactment.

A person who knowingly breaks an order would commit a misdemeanor. The penalty applies to a person who knowingly violates an order issued under this section. A first offense would be a second-degree misdemeanor; a second or later offense would be a first-degree misdemeanor. Contact includes direct or indirect communication or interaction, including through another person or technology. The act would take effect 30 days after enactment.