Bill toughens punishment for order of protection violation

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, would define violation of an order of protection as domestic violence and punishable by a Class A misdemeanor.

The measure is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

“The most the judge can do now is 10 days,” Bowers said. “But changing it to a Class A means the judge can put the person in jail up to 11 months and 29 days.”

Bowers said she sponsored the legislation following the death of Jennifer Braddock about two years ago in Memphis. Braddock’s ex-boyfriend violated his fifth order of protection and went to her home where he fatally shot her and two of her friends before turning the gun on himself.

As recently as three weeks ago, Bowers said a woman was dropping off one of her children at a day-care center and her estranged husband fatally shot her. He had violated his second order of protection.

“We hope this (bill) will serve as a deterrent,” Bowers said. “This is something a great number of people across the state of Tennessee have been interested in and we’re finally getting it passed.”

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On the Net:

Read HB1210/SB1763 at www.legislature.state.tn.us/