​July 28, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Amanda Grady Sexton: [email protected] 

Concord, N.H. — Following a press conference today at the State House, New Hampshire leaders reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children and survivors of violence, sending a clear message: violent offenders will not find safe haven in the Granite State.
Governor Kelly Ayotte has officially signed a robust package of bipartisan legislation aimed at closing critical gaps in the state’s response to abuse and exploitation. The newly enacted laws — HB62, HB218, HB369, HB405, SB140, SB145, SB262, SB267, and SB300 — bolster protections for children, improve the state’s approach to human trafficking, enhance accountability for perpetrators of violence, and aim to prevent domestic violence homicides.

These reforms are part of a broader, coordinated effort by victim advocates to build a survivor-centered system of justice in New Hampshire. Across the state, experts are working together with frontline professionals to ensure they have the tools and legal support necessary to intervene effectively and protect those at risk.

“Public safety isn’t limited to what happens on our streets—it means being safe in your own home, at work, and online, and living free from the threat of violence, exploitation, or harassment,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “These new laws reflect a deep understanding that we must continue to close every legal loophole, strengthen every safeguard, and actively work to promote laws that will help prevent violence before it begins.”

The passage of these laws represents a shared commitment to building safer communities across New Hampshire.

HB405 is a critical step to ensure that our communities are safeguarded against "Illicit Massage Businesses" (IMBs), which are a specific type of commercial-front trafficking venue disguised as lawful massage or bodywork businesses. One element of this bill updates New Hampshire's prostitution statute, RSA 645:2, in cases where someone knowingly allows a place under their control to be used for acts of trafficking — raising the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony level offense.

SB262 increases the minimum sentence for individuals convicted of trafficking children in New Hampshire, bringing our state law more in alignment with federal law when it comes to prosecuting these horrific crimes. 

SB267 establishes a fine of $500 for defendants convicted of engaging in prostitution, helping hold accountable the buyers who are helping sex traffickers' profit from this exploitation. These fines will be directed to strengthen anti-trafficking work in our state.

SB300 strengthens our child sexual abuse images statute by prohibiting any person from creating intimate AI images of children for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal in New Hampshire.

With strong bipartisan support, we successfully championed a series of new laws designed to make our state’s system more accessible and responsive to victims of crime.
 
“Just one legal barrier to safety can have devastating consequences for victims of abuse and exploitation,” said Pamela Keilig, Public Policy Specialist at the Coalition. “These reforms represent a significant step forward, and we’re grateful to those lawmakers who supported these important bills. There is real momentum behind efforts to enhance public safety in New Hampshire and to build a system that better reflects the complex challenges survivors face every day.”
 
HB62 enables victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment in the New Hampshire National Guard to access financial assistance when participating in legal proceedings. Additionally, it will allow military protective orders to be introduced as evidence in civil domestic violence cases.
 
HB218 updates state law to allow victims of crime to receive a free copy of their police report, ensuring that they have the documents they need to access essential resources and services.
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HB369 requires the defendant of a sexual assault crime against a minor to decide whether to proceed in circuit court with a bench trial or immediately appeal to the superior court for a jury trial, thereby streamlining court proceedings. It also requires a sex offender to report in person to law enforcement within five business days of their conviction.
 
SB140 codifies into law the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee, ensuring that the thorough and comprehensive reviews continue so that we can more effectively prevent domestic violence related homicides in the future.
 
SB145 develops a pilot program to use common carriers to speed up the time it takes for sexual assault kits to be delivered to the state lab. It also creates a clear timeframe for when these kits need to be delivered.
 
About the Coalition:
The Coalition is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and human trafficking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy.

July 17, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected] 

The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence commends the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in State v. Matthew Raymond, which upholds the use of expert testimony to explain the complex ways that victims respond to domestic violence and trauma. 

In the case, Matthew Raymond was convicted of several serious offenses, including second-degree assault (strangulation), false imprisonment, and domestic violence-related simple assault. On appeal, Raymond challenged the admissibility of expert testimony provided by Dr. Scott Hampton, a clinical psychologist with national expertise in intimate partner violence. The Supreme Court decisively upheld the testimony, affirming that general expert education on victim behavior is not only appropriate but essential to helping juries understand trauma responses, such as delayed reporting, recantation, or ongoing contact with an abuser.

“Expert witnesses play a vital role in domestic and sexual violence cases,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs at the Coalition. "They help jurors understand what trauma really looks like—not just in theory, but in the lived experiences of survivors. Many people expect victims to behave in a certain way, but trauma doesn't follow a script and the brain's survival systems can override rational thought. For example, trauma can cause someone to freeze or shut down and make it hard to recount what happened in a linear fashion. This ruling ensures that survivors won't be discredited just because their response to abuse doesn't match a common stereotype."

The Court confirmed that experts can offer general insights grounded in professional experience, even if they are not offering opinions about the specific victim in the case. This decision will have far-reaching impacts in both domestic and sexual violence prosecutions, helping ensure that verdicts are based on a deeper understanding of abuse dynamics rather than misconceptions or myths.

The Coalition extends its sincere thanks to Assistant Attorney General Sam Gonyea and the entire appellate team at the New Hampshire Department of Justice for their dedication to advancing justice for victims of crime.

A copy of the Supreme Court’s full opinion can be found at: https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/supreme-court​.

July 10, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected] 

We thank the New Hampshire Department of Justice and law enforcement partners for their leadership in shutting down more than 40% of illicit massage businesses across the state — a major step in disrupting human trafficking in our communities.

“This marks a significant step forward in New Hampshire’s fight against human trafficking, but our work is far from finished. Trafficking continues to impact individuals in all 10 counties across the state, and we have a collective responsibility to do more—to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent future harm,” said Coalition Program Director Meg Chant.

The Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence will be working closely with the Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force this upcoming legislative session to push for a statewide licensing process for massage businesses. We’ll also be working with landlords and property owners to raise awareness and help prevent traffickers from operating under the radar.

This is a critical moment to move from enforcement to long-term prevention — and we’re committed to helping lead that effort.
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About the task force: The Coalition coordinates and is a partner with the Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force. The Task Force Director, who works at the Coalition, act as a facilitator, strategist and lead collaborator on efforts to combat human trafficking in New Hampshire.