The Louisiana Senate Resolution urges the Louisiana State Law Institute to conduct a study and provide recommendations regarding the justification and use of force or violence in defense for survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence. The resolution highlights the historical shortcomings of the legal system in understanding the complexities of domestic violence and the impact it has on survivors, who are often criminalized for actions taken in self-defense or under coercion from their abusers. It references a specific case, State v. Curley, where a woman was exonerated due to the failure of her defense counsel to present expert testimony on "battered woman's syndrome," underscoring the need for a more nuanced legal approach.

The resolution points out that existing Louisiana statutes on justification do not adequately consider the dynamics of intimate partner violence, leaving survivors without appropriate defenses when they act to protect themselves or their loved ones. It calls for a reassessment of these laws to better reflect the realities faced by survivors, aiming to restore justice and humanity to those who have been incarcerated for defending themselves against long-term abuse. By requesting this study, the Senate seeks to address the gaps in the legal framework that currently fail to protect and support survivors of trauma and abuse.