Senator Drops Controversial VAWA Campus Sex Provision, But Civil Rights Violations Remain

Press release here. Excerpt:

'WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a result of criticism from Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) and other groups, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has dropped the controversial "preponderance of evidence" standard from his proposed Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill. "Because of the feedback he has received concerning this proposal, he does not plan to include it in the bill he later will introduce," according to Erica Chabot, spokeswoman for the Senate Judiciary Committee (1).

Language in the draft bill would have required federally funded universities to apply a lower standard of proof — a 51% "preponderance" of evidence rather than the usual "clear and convincing" evidence — in cases of alleged sexual assault or domestic violence.

SAVE is thankful that the Senator decided to drop this section from his proposed bill, but other parts of the measure still contain troubling civil rights concerns:

Due Process Violations:

• Allows for the continued funding of mandatory arrest policies, which a Harvard study found to increases in partner homicides of 60 percent.
• One false allegation can be used to tear apart a family: VAWA is an engine for the growth of single-parent households and the demand for welfare services.'