Let the Victim Decide
Letter to State Senator Todd Weiler regarding S.B. 155, Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Adjustments.
February 5, 2025
Todd Weiler
Senate Parliamentarian
Republican - District 8
1248 W 1900 S
Woods Cross, UT, 84087
RE: S.B. 155, Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Adjustments
Dear Senator Weiler:
Regarding your bill, S.B. 155, Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Adjustments. Your rhetoric for repeatedly trying to push through a bill of this nature is misguided. I concur that all humans deserve a chance to make amends and earn forgiveness directly from their victims. However, as written, S.B. 155 egregiously falls short to enable offenders the opportunity to make amends, provide restitution, and earn forgiveness from their victims.
When a predator is convicted of a crime this egregious, the victim must endure significant pain and suffering to bring the predator to a legal conviction. Many victims and survivors choose to never endure this arduous and painful process to bring their perpetrator to justice.
If victims report to the police, their stories are disbelieved and discounted. In the 2022 Study, "Unfounded Sexual Assault: Women’s Experiences of Not Being Believed by the Police" concluded that "...high rates of unfounded sexual assaults reveal that dismissing sexual violence has become common practice amongst the police." The study documents that, "The women in this study who experienced a sexual assault and reported the assault to police were hopeful that police would help them and justice would be served. Instead, these women were faced with insensitivity, blaming questions, lack of investigation, and lack of follow-up from the police, all of which contributed to not being believed by the institutions designed to protect them." 1
The skepticism encountered by children reporting sexual abuse is even higher. The path is daunting for a victim of sexual assault to achieve judicial justice.
On the chance that a sexual predator is found guilty, the victim rarely receives any type of amends or restitution. The principle of making amends and providing restitution directly to the victim is critical to common religious repentance practices and recovery programs.2 3
For convicted sexual offenders, the guidelines outlined in your proposed bill do not include an absolute assurance or even an acknowledgement from the victim (or if the victim is under 18 years of age the victim's parent or guardian) that the victim (or their parent/guardian) has received amends or restitution. This is a glaring omission in your proposed bill.
Let the victim decide if their perpetrator is forgiven. The victim's healing process can take years. All carry the scars of the sexual assault with them, some learn to manage those scars. Sadly, others don't.
In the words of Dr. Robert Block, the former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today."4
I strongly suggest you drop this egregious bill, S.B. 155, Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Adjustments, which as written invalidates the victims' experience(s). If you insist on pursuing this bill, I strongly encourage you to amend the proposed bill as follows:
5.f. If the victim, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor under 18 years old, objects to the offender's motion, the motion is denied.
5.g. If the victim, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor under 18 years old, does not respond within 45 days, the motion is denied.
The victim has suffered unthinkable damage by the offender. The victim had no control of the actions and attempted slaughter of their soul at the hands of this offender. Let the victim, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is under 18 years of age, decide any adjustments for the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender.
Sincerely
April Daniels
Co-author: Paperdolls: Healing from Sexual Abuse in Mormon Neighborhoods, 1992
Paperdolls & Cowboy Boots, 2024
Please forward this post, or download the PDF and forward to your legislative representative. I strongly encourage everyone on this list to contact Todd Weiler directly Even if you aren’t in Utah, please call or drop him a note to express your outrage.
Senator Todd Weiler
Mobile: 801-599-9823
Address: 1248 W 1900 S, Woods Cross, UT, 84087
Email: tweiler@le.utah.gov