Sunday, August 24, 2025, was a day that changed my life forever. I was a victim of a violent domestic violence incident, terrified and desperate for help. My safety was at stake, and in that moment of distress, I made the call to the police, trusting that they would provide the protection I needed. To my disbelief, instead of being helped, I found myself arrested.

The reason? I was under a deferred prosecution agreement which included a stipulation of "no police contact." The agreement did not differentiate between contact as a victim or as an offender. As a result, the agreement was revoked, and the protection I desperately needed was denied. In my most vulnerable moment, the system failed me.

I am not alone. Across the nation, individuals under deferred prosecution agreements live with the fear of being victimized yet face the looming threat of revocation if they reach out for help. This policy is a severe oversight and ignores the reality of situations where the person needing protection is actually the victim, not the perpetrator.

Deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) and similar legal measures are intended to rehabilitate offenders, not punish victims. Yet, without clear protections in place for victims of crime, these agreements serve as potential traps, discouraging individuals from seeking aid when they most need it. The law should distinguish between police contact as a victim and as an offender.

According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, thousands of individuals enter into DPAs annually. Without legal safeguards, how many of these people might be forced into silence and suffering due to fear of legal repercussions? This petition calls for legislative action to amend DPAs nationwide, ensuring that victims of crime are not penalized for seeking the help they should be entitled to.

Senseless suffering and miscarriages of justice can no longer be ignored. We must urge lawmakers to address this critical flaw in the justice system, ensuring that victims are protected, not re-victimized, when they contact the police in moments of crisis. We propose the implementation of clear legal protections for victims under DPAs, preventing unfair revocation due to their status as victims of crime.

Please, join me in pushing for justice and protection for victims. Sign this petition to change the law and protect those who need it most when they are most vulnerable.