May 30, 2006

New legislation toughens penalties for sex offenders

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed legislation that will strengthen penalties for sex offenders who target children.  The eight-bill package known as Jessica’s Law is named for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender in Florida last year.

“We must continue to take steps to protect our children,” said Granholm.  “I am proud to sign legislation that will help keep the predators who target the young behind bars where they belong.”

The legislative package creates a new 25-year mandatory minimum sentence for adults convicted of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) where the victim is under the age of 13.  Any offender with a previous CSC conviction will receive an automatic life sentence.  In addition, offenders convicted of first or second degree CSC with a victim under the age of 13 will be required to wear electronic monitoring devices if paroled.

This is just the latest action taken by the governor to protect Michigan’s children.  Under her leadership, Michigan has:

•  strengthened child care rules to ensure that facilities are safe and interactive learning environments;

•  enacted tough new laws to keep sex offenders away from schools and child care facilities;

•  passed legislation to keep violent and sexually explicit video games out of the hands of children; and,

•  enacted legislation creating an Internet “do not call” list for parents who want to keep inappropriate material out of their children’s email boxes.

The eight bills signed by the governor are:  House Bills 5421 and 5422, sponsored by Representative Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair Township); House Bills 5531 and 5532, sponsored by Representative David Law (R-Commerce Township); Senate Bill 709, sponsored by Senator Tony Stamas (R-Midland); Senate Bill 717, sponsored by Senator Laura Toy (R-Livonia); Senate Bill 718, sponsored by Senator Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac); and Senate Bill 1122, sponsored by Senator Alan Sanborn (R-Richmond Township).  All bills in the package take effect in 90 days.
 
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