Politics & Government

Meehan Supports Bill to Terminate Rapist Custody Rights

The U.S. Representative says the legislation protects rape victims.

Written by Brittany Tressler

U.S. Representative Pat Meehan announced Thursday that he was co-sponsoring legislation to terminate the custody rights of convicted rapists, called the 'Rape Survivor Child Custody Act.'

"I'm a former prosecutor. I've defended rape victims and I've put their attackers behind bars," said Meehan. “Amazingly, in some states rapists have parental rights to their child. Victims then must relive their experiences in prolonged custody disputes, and they're forced to interact with their attackers on a regular basis to arrange visitation."

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H.R. 2772 makes states with certain protection statutes eligible for additional funding through the Violence Against Women Act; currently, state laws differ on protections for rap victims regarding the parental rights of attackers.

"This isn't just painful for the victim -- it's unsafe for the child, as well. Federal policy can and should encourage states to protect rape victims and their children," Meehan said.

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