Reno, Nevada. June 9, 2015. Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks announced today that his office will host a media conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 to present information on several bills supported by his office and recently passed by the Nevada Legislature. Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt will be attending, along with representatives from neighboring District Attorney’s Offices, Local Law Enforcement and the Reno area’s Alliance for Victim’s Rights.

What: Media conference on recent legislation benefiting victims of crime

When: Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 10 a.m.

Where: Mills B. Lane Justice Center – 3rd floor, 1 South Sierra Street, Reno, Nevada

The passage of these bills makes changes to existing laws that benefit victims of crime, primarily children, and assist in prosecuting violent offenders. Bills being discussed include:

• AB 193 – Under certain circumstance, allows for audiovisual testimony and the use of hearsay evidence of victim statements at preliminary hearings or grand jury proceedings involving sexual offenses against a child under 16 and felony child abuse and domestic violence cases. For example, this change could have effected a recent abuse case (State v. Robert Downs) in which the child victim was required to testify at a grand jury before being reunited with family in the United Kingdom. AB49 – Expands the definition of lewdness with a minor and increases related penalties. Criminalizes the distribution of “intimate images.”
• SJR17 (Marsy’s Law) – Expands and defines the Victim’s Bill of Rights within the Nevada Constitution.