This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing a domestic violence registry, which will be maintained by the Criminal Identification Bureau of the West Virginia State Police. The registry is intended to protect children and other household members by allowing individuals to verify if a person has prior domestic violence convictions. It will include the names and identifying information of individuals convicted of three or more misdemeanor or felony offenses related to domestic violence. The information provided to the public will include the nature of the convictions but will not disclose any victim identities. Additionally, the bill mandates that prosecuting attorneys report domestic violence convictions to the registry, ensuring that the information is kept confidential and accessible only to authorized requesters.

The bill also includes several definitions and provisions related to the central abuse registry, which will now encompass the domestic violence registry. It specifies the criteria for inclusion in the registry, the information that must be reported by prosecuting attorneys, and the confidentiality of the information contained within the registry. The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting the identities of victims while allowing for the necessary disclosure of information to ensure public safety. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the state's ability to monitor and address domestic violence through a structured and confidential registry system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2C-1, 15-2C-3, 15-2C-4, 15-2C-8, 15-2C-2a