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House Republicans move to take quick action on sex
offender bill
House Republicans in the
state Legislature hoped to get quick movement today on a bill to
increase penalties for child rapists, but the plan was rebuffed by
majority Democrats in a procedural vote that came down on a straight
party line today. The GOP lawmakers moved for immediate consideration of
House Bill 2476 – also known as Jessica’s Law Plus – a measure that
would impose sentences of 25 years to life for rape of a child. The
motion failed 42-55.
Monday was the first day
of the 2006 legislative session, which is scheduled to last 60 days.
Twentieth District lawmakers Reps. Richard DeBolt and
Gary
Alexander
said the Republican caucus is not in a mood to drag its feet on
important issues during a short session.
“We know the fear that exists for victims of sex predators and their
families who worry that offenders will be released back into their
communities,” said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “We know the loophole that exists
with treatment alternatives that allow child rapists to be set free
after very little jail time. We don’t need more committee meetings to
fix this problem. What we need is a commitment to take action on this
solution immediately. That’s what we hoped for today, and we’re
disappointed in the cavalier approach the majority party is taking
toward this critical issue.”
House Bill 2476 calls for penalties ranging from 30 years to life in
prison for first-degree rape of a child involving a victim under age 12,
and a 25-year sentence for first degree rape involving a child age 12 to
15 or any victim who is developmentally disabled. It also calls for GPS
(global positioning satellite) monitoring of sex offenders and makes
failure to register as a sex offender a felony. The Democrats’ proposed
sex offender bill also increases penalties, but still allows a loophole
for over 90 percent of offenders – those who know and are trusted by
their victims.
“By exempting coaches, clergy, teachers, counselors and others who groom
their victims and violate their trust, we still make the vast majority
of sex predators eligible for shorter sentences,” said Alexander,
R-Olympia. “The pain, fear and grief suffered by the innocent victims of
sexual abuse create devastation that can take a lifetime to overcome.
The punishment should be commensurate with the effects of this heinous
crime, and House Bill 2476 makes it clear that we are more concerned
about protecting children and vulnerable citizens than we are with
reintegrating sex predators back into our communities.”
Jessica’s Law is named for a 9-year-old Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford,
who was murdered by a sex offender in February 2005. There are more than
18,000 sex offenders in Washington. More than 1,400 have no known
address.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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