Victims of Crimes, Protections (5551XD) - Attorney General

This Iowa bill (5551XD) strengthens protections for crime victims, particularly those impacted by sexual assault or domestic violence. It establishes strict confidentiality for victim-counselor communications (requiring counselors to complete 20+ hours of specialized training), grants immunity for good-faith disclosures, and allows courts to issue lifetime protective orders for victims of sexual offenses without requiring their in-person court appearance. The bill also updates sex offender registration deadlines to require in-person reporting within three business days of changes to residence or employment. These changes directly affect victims, victim counselors, law enforcement, and courts handling related cases.