My name is Courtney. I am a survivor of sexual assault, gun violence, and kidnapping.

When my offender came up for parole after servicing 14 of 20 year max for his crimes, I spoke infront of the parole board. His parole hearing date was my due date for my third son.

The delivery department forced my son out 2 weeks early so that I could attend the hearing as the state would not move it even tho the doctors pleaded for them too. So my only choice was to induce labor.

I ended up going to the hearing 20 hours after giving birth leaving my son in care of hosptial so I could drive hours away to try keep him in prison.

One of the things I had asked for if he were to be released, was to not allow him to be able to step foot in not one but two counties. The victim advocate told me not to get my hopes up or ask as if I did the parole board could flip other direction and give less restrictions becauae I was over reaching. In my opinion, a survivor can never over reqch when aaking for things to keep us safe. It had never been done before, and even getting them kicked out of a town did not happen very often (maybe 1 in every 1000 times its asked for) .

Well I asked anyways. The parole board listened in disgust to the horrific graphic details of my injuries right down to moment I left the emergancy room department.

The parole board, bless their hearts, did not bat an eye to my request and said and I quote;

"Mr.Baptiste, I do not know why your victim wants you to have no access to these counties. In our opinion we could send you to another planet and you still would not be far enough away from her. We are granting her request without hesitation that you not be allowed in both counties. This means if we see you on the highway that you maybe on for five minutes that puts you in one of these counties, you will return to prison. Is that clear Mr.Baptiste. He smiled and replied yes". This was a huge win not just for me, but for future victims in the sense that what I was told was impossible became possible. Problem now is, like when I went threw it, victims dont know they can ask for that. Like in my situation, are told dont ask because it wont happen. Well im proof it does.

This petition im asking you to sign, is to create a law and a guideline.

New Hampshire needs to have a law that violent felonious sexual assault criminals be banned from atleast one county requested by their victims for term of the victims life.

The guideline is for advocacy groups. This guideline would require advocacy groups to have to inform verbally and written with victims signatures they were told, offered, and declined/requested their perpetrator have a lifetime ban from atleast one county even if it is not passed into law. The guideline should also include advocates are required to encourage victims to ask for ANY safety measures they deem nessisary. Advocates can not discourage VICTIMS from asking the parole board anything related to their safety needs.

Unfortunately the advocate I had was not supportive in what I expressed I needed and wanted to ask for, and tried on multipul occasions to have me not mention it out of HER FEAR it would negatively impact parole boards sympathy for me.

I am glad I did not listen. As of a result, I was able to have something never done before done all just by simply asking. STEPHEN BAPTISTE WAS PERMINANTLY KICKED OUT OF TWO COUNTIES OF THE GREAT STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Please sign my petition to get this changed. This is how you can make a difference. This is how you can help all survivors sleep a little better at night knowing there is a bigger safety net around them. Restraining orders are not enough. They allow perpetrators way to close to their victims (close enough to still stock them. Close enough to unalive them with a gun). Signing this, you are helping SAVE LIVES. Signing this, you are helping VICTIMS start to HEAL, EMPOWERING them, FEEL SAFE again.

All can be done at no cost. Just by signing. If you dont feel comfortable signing, please atleast share it to all social media platforms so others can read it and sign as well.

I am sending petition to our stae representatives,town representatives, advocacy groups, social workers, I will be sending and fighting for this till something is done. I have started locally in my town and continue to expand with the goal by 2026 to have it at New Hampshire house with advocacy groups and survivors in tow