Why This Bill Falls Short
Nevada lawmakers are considering Assembly Bill 162, introduced by Assemblyman Toby Yurek (R), which would create a public database listing people with two or more domestic violence convictions.
But instead of strengthening protections for victims, this bill sends a troubling message: Nevada doesn’t take domestic violence seriously enough.
The bill would create a searchable website where people could look up repeat domestic violence offenders – but only after they’ve already hurt multiple victims.
What The Bill Actually Does
Under AB162, someone convicted of domestic violence twice in Nevada would have their name added to a public database. The website would show their full name and photo, date of birth, details about their domestic violence convictions, and whether they served jail time.
People could petition to be removed from the database after seven years without new convictions or if their records are sealed or expunged.
Why Conservatives Should Be Concerned
For those who value limited government that still fulfills its core duty to protect citizens, this bill represents a failure of government’s most basic responsibility.
The database approach essentially tells victims:
You’re on your own. The state won’t keep violent offenders off the streets, but here’s a tool to help you avoid becoming the third victim.
How Nevada Moved Backward on Domestic Violence
While soft-on-crime California has maintained tough felony penalties for domestic violence incidents, Nevada has actually weakened its laws. In 2021, the Nevada legislature passed Assembly Bill 42, which struck the prohibition against prosecutors dismissing domestic violence charges through plea bargains.
Before AB 42, Nevada law prohibited prosecutors from dismissing domestic violence charges “in exchange for a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to a lesser charge or for any other reason” unless they knew the charge wasn’t supported by evidence. The law was designed to ensure domestic violence cases were taken seriously.
AB 42 removed this protection entirely, giving prosecutors complete discretion to reduce or dismiss domestic violence charges through plea bargaining. This means even when evidence is strong, prosecutors can now allow offenders to plead to lesser non-domestic violence offenses.
This shift is deeply concerning for public safety. When violent offenders receive minimal consequences for early incidents, they often escalate to more serious crimes. The pattern is clear and well-documented in criminology research.
This change directly contradicts the approach taken in California, where domestic violence resulting in even slight injury remains a felony offense regardless of whether it’s a first, second, or subsequent offense.
Real-World Consequences
The deadly reality of Nevada’s approach to domestic violence is reflected in FBI statistics. According to SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger, Nevada ranks third in the nation for men murdering women.
From 1996 to 2020, this grim ranking has remained consistent. FBI data shows that 80% of these domestic violence homicides occurred in Clark County, with most taking place in Las Vegas proper.
Each year, Clark County alone receives approximately 100,000 domestic violence 911 calls. Only about 30% of these calls lead to an arrest or warrant.
Even more concerning, both the victim and accused are present in only 15% of cases when officers arrive. Until recently, Nevada law only gave officers 24 hours to make an arrest in domestic violence cases, further hindering efforts to hold abusers accountable.
SafeNest’s Ortenburger describes Nevada as “a perfect storm for homicides” in domestic violence cases. When early warning signs like strangulation are treated as misdemeanors rather than serious felonies, victims remain in danger.
Recent data shows the crisis is only worsening. Nevada now ranks second in the nation for domestic violence, according to a report from the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV), and it is in the top 10 states with the highest female homicide rates.
In 2023 alone, there were 72 domestic violence homicides in Nevada, 16 of which were murder-suicides.
“These were vital members of our community. Every loss is an individual to many whose been lost to domestic violence. So we need to really count them and just honor them and use this data so that we can move forward and make our state safer,” said Elizabeth Abdur-Raheem, Executive Director of NCEDSV.
The answer to 72 annual murders isn’t a repeat offender database.
This is the direct result of policies that prioritize leniency for offenders over safety for victims. While AB162’s database might track repeat offenders, it does nothing to address the fundamental problem: Nevada refuses to treat domestic violence as the serious crime it is from the very first incident.
What You Can Do
If you believe violent criminals should face serious consequences from their first offense, contact your representatives and urge them to amend AB162.
Ask them to strengthen penalties for domestic violence, support efforts to make domestic violence a felony on the first offense following California’s model, and push for amendments that would add offenders to the database after the first conviction, not the second or third.
The Bottom Line
True conservative values include protecting families and holding criminals accountable. AB162 fails on both counts by creating a database of repeat offenders instead of keeping them off the streets.
The message from this bill is clear: Nevada considers domestic violence a minor offense deserving of second chances, regardless of the trauma and danger inflicted on victims.
Our justice system’s fundamental responsibility is to protect citizens from violent offenders – not to create databases that shift that responsibility to potential victims.
#NVLeg: What should we do about domestic violence?
Victims: Prosecute violent crimes as felonies! #NVLeg: How about a website to potentially warn the third victim after two misdemeanor convictions?
Victims: pic.twitter.com/L4Z7vKalh7
— BrutalBrittany (@BrutalBrittany2) March 8, 2025
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
