AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL DISCRETION IN SENTENCING FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SB 1139 would allow judges to consider a defendant’s experience as a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or human trafficking as a factor when determining their sentence. This bill directly affects individuals facing criminal charges who have experienced these specific forms of trauma. The key provision amends statutes to give courts greater discretion to treat these circumstances as mitigating factors during sentencing. It does not change sentencing guidelines for perpetrators but provides judges with additional context when sentencing survivors who are defendants.