Oregon Passes “Kristil’s Law” for Faster Warrants

Why this is here: The typical processing time for warrants is “in the range of six weeks,” but Kristil’s Law aims to reduce that to 72 hours for social media and five days for other communication companies in cases of stalking and domestic violence.

In Oregon, Kristil Krug’s family successfully advocated for a new law requiring social media and communication companies to expedite responses to police warrants in stalking and domestic violence cases. Kristil Krug was killed in December 2023 after enduring months of threatening messages. Police issued warrants to Google and mobile providers to identify her stalker, but received no timely response.

The delay meant investigators didn’t discover until after Krug’s death that her husband, not her ex-boyfriend, was the sender. This prompted Krug’s family to push for legislation. Oregon’s “Kristil’s Law,” passed May 1, mandates companies respond within 72 hours for social media and five days for other communications.

Before this, no rules governed response times. Experts note similar challenges exist internationally, with police often relying on companies to voluntarily expedite requests.

The law is now being considered in Krug’s home state of Colorado and potentially at the federal level. Though a step forward, advocates acknowledge the need for broader changes to address technology-facilitated abuse and protect privacy.