More Good News
House passes sex offender bill
Mary Dalrymple - Associated Press
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Washington --- Finding the nearest convicted child molester will be as easy as punching in a ZIP code on a computer keyboard, thanks to a bill that cleared Congress on Tuesday.
The House passed and sent to President Bush a bill establishing a national Internet database designed to let law enforcement and communities know where convicted sex offenders live and work.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales applauded its passage. "America's children will be better protected from every parent's worst nightmare: sexual predators," he said.
The most serious offenders will be registered on a national database for a lifetime. All sex offenders will face a felony charge, punishable by 10 years in prison, for failing to update the information.
The House passed the measure by voice vote. The Senate approved it on a voice vote last week.
Convicted criminals required to register will have to do so in person in each state where they intend to live, work or go to school.
"It's time for all of our families to have access to this information," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.).
Child advocates have said the bill offers the most sweeping effort to combat pedophiles in years.
It creates a pilot program in which sex offenders wear tracking devices during supervised releases.
It increases criminal penalties for child predators, including a mandatory minimum 25-year prison sentence for kidnapping or maiming a child and a 30-year sentence for sex with a child under 12 or for sexually assaulting a child between 13 years old and 17 years old.
A new racketeering-style offense for people who commit two or more crimes against children will carry a mandatory 20-year sentence.
Mary Dalrymple - Associated Press
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Washington --- Finding the nearest convicted child molester will be as easy as punching in a ZIP code on a computer keyboard, thanks to a bill that cleared Congress on Tuesday.
The House passed and sent to President Bush a bill establishing a national Internet database designed to let law enforcement and communities know where convicted sex offenders live and work.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales applauded its passage. "America's children will be better protected from every parent's worst nightmare: sexual predators," he said.
The most serious offenders will be registered on a national database for a lifetime. All sex offenders will face a felony charge, punishable by 10 years in prison, for failing to update the information.
The House passed the measure by voice vote. The Senate approved it on a voice vote last week.
Convicted criminals required to register will have to do so in person in each state where they intend to live, work or go to school.
"It's time for all of our families to have access to this information," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.).
Child advocates have said the bill offers the most sweeping effort to combat pedophiles in years.
It creates a pilot program in which sex offenders wear tracking devices during supervised releases.
It increases criminal penalties for child predators, including a mandatory minimum 25-year prison sentence for kidnapping or maiming a child and a 30-year sentence for sex with a child under 12 or for sexually assaulting a child between 13 years old and 17 years old.
A new racketeering-style offense for people who commit two or more crimes against children will carry a mandatory 20-year sentence.
posted by Austin O. Jones | 10:25 AM
1 Comments:
A great law to pass
Mom 2
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