The Schille Bill

Stop Narcissistic Abusers from Weaponizing the Legal System
Domestic violence laws exist to protect victims—but what happens when a narcissistic abuser turns the system against the innocent? Too often, narcissistic manipulators falsely accuse their victims of abuse, using restraining orders, false police reports, and biased court tactics to destroy lives.

This is legal abuse, and it must end.

Right now, the system makes it too easy for narcissistic abusers to:
❌ File false allegations with little to no evidence
❌ Manipulate family courts to gain custody and control
❌ Destroy reputations, careers, and futures without accountability

We need laws that:
✅ Require solid evidence before issuing restraining orders
✅ Hold false accusers accountable for perjury and legal manipulation
✅ Ensure due process so the truly innocent aren’t punished

Make laws to end Narcissistic Abuse.

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition for a legislative amendment in California to classify emotional and psychological abuse as a criminal offense rather than solely a civil matter. While California law appropriately criminalizes physical domestic violence due to its profound and lasting effects, emotional and psychological abuse—despite its equally devastating impact—remains largely confined to civil litigation. This legal gap fails to recognize the significant and enduring harm suffered by victims, particularly those subjected to narcissistic abuse in familial and intimate relationships.

Recognizing and Criminalizing Narcissistic Abuse

Narcissistic abuse is insidious. Though it leaves no visible scars, its long-term consequences can be severe and life-altering. It is more than manipulation and control—it is calculated psychological warfare that leaves survivors emotionally shattered, financially ruined, and legally unprotected.

Currently, the law fails to recognize or address this form of abuse. Victims are gaslit in court, re-traumatized by legal loopholes, and left vulnerable to further harm. This must change.

The Devastating Impact of Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Victims of emotional and psychological abuse, particularly in cases of narcissistic manipulation, often experience:

❎Erosion of Identity and Autonomy – Continuous manipulation, gaslighting, and degradation strip victims of self-confidence, independence, and the ability to trust their own perceptions.
❎Severe Psychological Distress – Prolonged exposure to psychological abuse frequently leads to anxiety, depression, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), with symptoms that persist long after the abuse has ended.
❎Trauma Bonding – Victims develop psychological dependency on their abuser, mistaking control and manipulation for love or security. This dynamic makes it exceedingly difficult for them to leave, reinforcing the cycle of abuse.

The Neurological Consequences of Prolonged Abuse

Narcissistic abusers use the legal system to further abuse their victims and this must stop. Extensive research demonstrates that sustained emotional abuse alters brain function and structure, affecting:

The Amygdala – Heightened fear response and chronic anxiety.
The Prefrontal Cortex – Impaired decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control.
The Hippocampus – Compromised memory processing and difficulty maintaining healthy relationships.
These neurological impairments intensify victims’ suffering and hinder their ability to seek help. Addressing such profound harm solely through civil remedies fails to reflect the severity of its impact. Also,  the slow court process prolongs victim suffering. 

The Urgent Need for Legal Reform in California

Under current California law, victims of emotional and psychological abuse must navigate the burdensome process of civil litigation to seek protection or justice. This places an undue burden on individuals already suffering from significant trauma. Furthermore, civil proceedings often re-traumatize victims by requiring direct confrontation with their abuser in adversarial legal settings.

Given the overwhelming evidence of the harm caused by emotional abuse, we urge California legislators to amend existing laws to criminalize severe cases of emotional and psychological abuse. This reform would:

✅Ensure Accountability – Recognizing emotional abuse as a criminal offense would hold perpetrators legally responsible for their actions.
✅Protect Vulnerable Individuals – Spouses, children, and others subjected to psychological abuse deserve the same legal protections as victims of physical violence.
✅Acknowledge Scientific Evidence – Neuroscience confirms the profound impact of emotional abuse, warranting legal recognition.
✅Deter Abusers – Criminal penalties would provide a stronger deterrent than civil litigation alone.

Call to Action

We respectfully urge California lawmakers to take the following steps:

1. Amend domestic violence statutes to classify severe emotional and psychological abuse as a criminal offense.
2. Improve law enforcement and judicial training to enhance recognition, assessment, and prosecution of psychological abuse cases.
3. Establish standardized evidence collection protocols, ensuring that victims of emotional abuse receive the same legal protections as victims of physical violence.
4. Expand resources for survivors and those falsely accused, including trauma-informed counseling, legal assistance, and safe housing 

The current legal system fails to adequately protect victims,  leaving them without viable recourse. Current laws even insensitive abusers to make false allegations against their victims. California has the opportunity to lead the nation in addressing the full spectrum of domestic abuse, ensuring that all victims—regardless of whether their abuse is physical or psychological—receive the justice and protection they deserve.

Your signature can help stop this injustice. No one should lose their sanity, freedom, their children, or their dignity because of a narcissist’s lies. Sign the petition now and demand fair laws that protect the real victims.