The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2016

Bill 231-33, Public Law 33-132
Passed: 2/18/16, Signed into Law: 3/04/16

An act to add a new chapter 20 to title 9, Guam Code Annotated, relative to acts of violence against an unborn child. Passed: 02/18/16


Legislative Intent
I Liheslaturan Guahan finds that "The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2016" (Act) is a step toward protecting an expectant mother and her unborn child, and recognizes that an unborn child is a legal victim if he or she is injured or killed during the commission of crimes of violence. ...she should also be assured that any harm to her unborn child caused from unwarranted and unexpected harm directed at her will result in additional criminal sanctions against the responsible person(s).

Salient Provisions
With respect to title 9, chapter 20, "unborn child" is defined to mean a child in utero, and the term "child in utero" or "child, who is in utero" means a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb.

Section 20.50 criminalizes as murder acts that result in the death of an unborn child.  Other sections criminalize certain acts as manslaughter, aggravated assault and and assault against the unborn child.  Abortion is excluded.

Legislator Voting Record for the Bill (click here for PDF)
14 "Aye" votes, 1 "Nay" vote: