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For Immediate
Release
6/19/06
CONTACT:
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Orie, Rafferty Hail Passage of "Jessica's Law"
Measure
Will Crack Down on Child Sexual Predators
HARRISBURG -- The state Senate today overwhelmingly approved
legislation sponsored by Senator Jane Orie
(R-Allegheny) and John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) that
would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years
for convicted child molesters and require them to wear
a monitoring device for life.
"Jessica's Law" is named for Jessica Lunsford, a
9-year old Florida girl who was kidnapped and murdered
by a convicted sex offender.
"We are proud that Pennsylvania is leading a national
effort to crack down on child sexual predators,
more comprehensively monitor offenders and ensure that
all offenders register under the current Megan's Law,"
Rafferty said.
Orie added, "This
bill not only increases penalties for those who prey
on children, it also ensures that if and when they are
released their whereabouts are known for the rest of
their lives. Monitoring sex predators is crucial to
protecting potential victims before a crime occurs."
Senate Bill 944
would impose a minimum of 25 years in prison for
anyone over 18 years who is convicted of sexually
assaulting a child, mandatory GPS monitoring for life,
and a
mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of a second offense.
A forfeiture section was also added to Senate Bill
944, similar to the forfeiture laws currently in place
for narcotics offenders, that would allow the courts
to seize property or assets linked to the commission
of the crime. Assets would be used to offset the
daily cost of monitoring sexual offenders.
The bill provides additional penalties for anyone
convicted of knowingly harboring or aiding a sex
offender who has failed to register under Megan's
Law. It also enhances the current Megan's Law website
and offender reporting requirements by mandating more
specific residence information and reducing the time
permitted for an offender to register after his or her
release or relocation.
"As a former prosecutor, I know that sexual predators
have a very high rate of recidivism, so they are
especially dangerous when they are released from
prison and returned to society," Orie said. "Sex
offenders are about four times more likely than
non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex
crime, after their discharge from prison."
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, there are
over 7,100 registered sex offenders in the state.
Last year, sexual assault centers around the
Commonwealth served approximately 38,000 people,
nearly a third of whom were children. Children under
12 account for 34 percent of all sexual assaults.
"This bill will put these predators on notice. If you
harm children, we will lock you up for a long time,
and you will lose your freedom for life," Rafferty
said. "Our hope is that Jessica Lunsford did not die
in vain, and that other states will join in a national
effort to more closely monitor sex offenders and
strengthen our laws to protect our children."
  Orie
Rafferty
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