San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is partnering in a statewide legislative effort aimed at strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence by allowing prosecutors to file felony charges for violations of protective orders in high-risk cases.
Lurie earlier this month said he is partnering with Assemblymember Catherine Stefani to introduce the proposal, a news release noted.
Under current California law, violations of restraining and protective orders are generally charged as misdemeanors.
“Survivors do everything they are told to do. They seek help. They go to court. They secure a protective order. When an abuser violates that order and nothing happens, the system has abandoned them,” said Assemblymember Stefani. “This legislation changes that. If a survivor is in danger, prosecutors must have the authority to step in before violence escalates.”
The proposal is based on a pattern seen across San Francisco, where survivors report repeated violations of restraining and protective orders, but enforcement often varies and carries little consequence because current law limits most violations to misdemeanor charges, the mayor’s office said.
The proposed legislation would allow prosecutors to file felony charges in high-risk cases, giving them flexibility to respond to repeated or threatening violations without mandating harsher penalties in every situation.