Jessica’s Law Passes Judicial Proceedings
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2007
Contact: Chris Meekins 410-841-3158
Late tonight the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee passed
SB 413 which brings Maryland sex offender laws up to the
standards set forth in the nationally renowned Jessica’s law.
The committee vote was 8 to 3 with only Senators Frosh, Gladden,
and Raskin voting against the bill.
As this bill heads to the Senate floor, it enjoys strong bi-
partisan support. The bill entered the committee with 24
co-sponsors, but after the heart-wrenching testimony by victims
of child sexual abuse, Senator Brochin amended himself onto the
bill as a co-sponsor. The bill now has 25 co-sponsors, 12 of
which are Democrats.
The legislation states:
- Those convicted of 1st degree sex 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 2nd degree sex offense or 2nd degree
rape will not be sentenced more than 20 years, but not less
than a five year mandatory sentence without the possibility
of parole.
Senator Jacobs made the following statements
concerning this bill:
“I am thankful Chairman Frosh allowed this bill to come up
for a vote. Now that the bill has overwhelmingly passed the
Judicial Proceedings Committee, the bill heads to the Senate
floor. With a majority of the members as sponsors of the
bill, I anticipate it will pass quickly.
“I am thankful citizens from across the state contacted
legislators to show their support for this bill. Without the
public’s out-flowing of support, this bill would not be
heading to the Senate floor.
“We must show we value our children by protecting them from
sexual predators. These predators are the vilest members of
our society and their vile actions deserve severe
punishments.
“Our children are the most precious resource in our state.
We have an obligation to protect them from those who mean
them harm.
“We can spend millions of dollars educating our children,
but what good is that money if we do not protect them from
sexual predators?”
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