Denise Rotheimer: Mothers On a Mission to Stop Violence

 Mothers On a Mission to Stop Violence (MOMSV) was founded in April of 2008 by Denise Rotheimer, whose daughter, Jasmine was the victim of a violent crime at age 11. MOMSV is a grass-roots organization dedicated to strengthening and enforcing laws that protect victims and survivors of violent crime and working to create a fair, just, and equitable court system.

Since, 2004 Denise proposed legislation to amend the Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Violent Crimes Act based on her criteria. In 2004 and 2006 both House Bills died in rules committee.

In 2008, Denise went on to propose SB1020, known as, Jasmine's Law (named after her daughter), which became effective under Illinois law PA 96-1390 on 1/1/2011. Jasmine's Law added alcohol as a "factor in aggravation" under all five sex felony offenses, giving judges the discretion to double the sentence of convicted sex offenders who committed an act of sexual violence against a minor under 18.

Following the passage of Jasmine's Law, Denise proposed HB1237, known as the Survivor Rights Act, which passed the House unanimously in April 2011 but died under the leadership of Senator Michael Noland in committee during veto session. Despite their failed attempts to enforce victims' rights through the legislature, Denise and Jasmine filed a federal complaint requesting the Federal Judge to declare unconstitutional the provisions under Illinois law that denies victims due process and equal protection of the laws in violation of their 14th Amendment right as U.S. citizens.  The status hearing on their case Jimenez v. State of Illinois 11 c 4707 is set for January 18, 2012.

Denise founded and hosts a monthly cable television show to raise awareness of issues affecting the safety of our communities, "Enforce Justice.”