How You Can Help Strengthen Maryland's Law to Ensure Convicted Sex Offenders are Kept Off Our Streets

Jessica's Law was signed into law on Thursday, May 17.

Senator Jacobs is introducing additional legislation in the 2008 legislative session to remove any opportunity for the early prison release of child sex offenders and will increase the penalties for possession of child pornography. Additionally, she will add more specific penalties to Jessica's Law to strengthen the penalties for second and third degree sex offenses.

Senator Nancy Jacobs will continue to push for more protections for our children from sexual predators. In addition to passing Jessica's law, Senator Jacobs has and will continue to propose the following legislative initiatives as a continuing effort:

• Eliminating "good time" credits for child sex offenders
   
• Increasing the mandatory minimum sentences for second degree child sex offenses.
   
• Adding mandatory minimum sentences for third degree child sex offenses.
   
• Criminalizing the possession of child pornography because child pornography serves as the gateway drug for sexual predators.

The provisions of Jessica's Law include:

• Those convicted of a 1st degree sexual offense or 1st degree rape will be sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to life with no chance of parole.
   
• Those convicted of a 2nd degree sexual offense or 2nd degree rape will receive a mandatory minimum sentence of five years without parole and can receive an additional sentence of up to 15 additional years in prison.
   
• Those convicted of a 3rd degree sexual offense can receive up to 10 years in prison.

Please contact Senator Jacobs now to learn how you can become a part of this effort to keep sex offenders off our streets. Click here.