States currently working on Passing Jessica's Law/Updated

Not passed, but at least some people are trying! Maryville motorcyclist pushes for Jessica's Law in Tennessee October 21, 2006 By SONU WASU 6 News Reporter MARYVILLE (WATE) -- A Maryville motorcyclist is rallying his fellow bikers to push for child safety and tougher penalties against sex offenders. Mark Norman is leading an effort to pass what's known as Jessica's Law in Tennessee. The law would require a mandatory 25 year prison sentence for a first-time sex offender whose victim is under 13 years of age. It would also require sex offenders to wear a GPS tracking device for 35 years after they are released from prison. The law is named for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was kidnapped from her bedroom in Florida two years ago. After a month-long search, authorities found her body in a shallow grave, covered with leaves. She had been raped and murdered. Norman says he was touched and horrified after hearing Jessica's story. "Jessica's Law is not going to stop pedophiles from existing, but it's going to stop same ones from repeatedly offending and hurting these kids," he says. To spread the word, Norman hopped on to his motorcycle and started riding around the state with dozens of other bikers to get people to sign a petition he can present to Gov. Phil Bredesen. In 15 days he's logged 3,300 miles and stopped in dozens of little towns. "I've zig-zagged every little pig path, small town road I could get on," Norman says. "I stopped in towns, restaurants, and just anywhere I stopped for gas, I took the petition in and got it signed." So far, more than 10,000 people have signed his petition. Norman has five children of his own. He says he does not understand how laws could be lenient toward convicted sex offenders that target children. "How could a twice convicted sex offender who had raped two little girls already be out on the street to do what he did to that little girl for two days?" Norman's wife, Latrisha, has also been traveling with him. She says she feels just as strongly he does about protecting children and putting child predators away for a long time. "Everybody has kids. Everybody has nieces, nephews, grandkids. We gotta protect them. If we don't do it who will?" Norman says he's learned that trying to get a law to pass is not as easy as it seems. He's encountering some challenges. "I've learned if you're dealing with judges, they don't want to give up the power. Mandatory sentencing tends to take a lot of power away from a judge. I've learned if you're dealing with a politician, all they want to talk to you about is money." But Norman adds, "You can't put a price tag on a child, an innocent child." So Norman and his fellow motorcyclists will continue to push for Jessica's Law. If they get the law passed as it is written, Norman says there is possibility of getting federal funding. Gov. Bredesen's office has written to Norman telling him the administration has just spent $2 million on GPS tracking devices for sex offenders. The program is in its pilot stages. Jessica's Law would take that action a step farther. It would mean first-time sex offenders would be locked up for a much longer period of time before the GPS bracelet is strapped on to their ankles. Norman plans to make an appointment with the governor so he can present the petitions his group has gathered. In addition to signing his petition, thousands have logged on to Norman's Web site, nomorechildpredators.org and signed the petition online. John Couey, a registered sex offender who had already spent time behind bars on charges of molesting children, is now charged with Jessica Lunsford's murder. Authorities say Couey broke into Jessica's home and kidnapped her. In a statement to authorities, Couey reportedly told them he raped Lunsford for two days, then told her to stay in his closet while he went to work. The little girl did not leave the closet in his absence. Couey was then accused of murdering the girl and burying her body. The murder of Jessica raised a lot of questions about how sex offenders are tracked and the amount of time they spend behind bars for their crimes. National statistics indicate of about 400,000 registered sex offenders, 80,000 to 100,000 are reported missing. Nobody knows where they are. In light of Jessica's death, 40 states have passed laws that would require stronger tracking of sex offenders with stiffer sentences. http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=5571754&nav=0RYv

question
How about a email campaign to the powers to be in Tenn from us?

The Governor of Tennessee is Phil Bredesen and his email address is: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us Other Info: Governor's Office Tennessee State Capitol Nashville, TN 37243-0001 Phone: 615.741.2001 Fax: 615.532.9711

Illinois in the gray! Who are you voting for?
Do they support Jessica's Law? I know the answers to my emails avoided an answer from the D's in Chicago, why???? WHY?? We NEED Jessica's LAW! People, vote for what is Right, not just for a party! God knows Illinois NEEDS to be out of the gray and clamp down on Sex offenders once and for all!!!

Jessica's Law: 21 States and Counting Staff Reports Article Launched: 01/26/2007 09:22:23 AM EST Led by state Sen. John McKinney (R-28) and state Sen. Louis C. DeLuca (R-Woodbury) the Senate Republican Caucus reintroduced Jessica's Law for Connecticut at a press conference Wednesday in Hartford. At the same time a new bill, the Internet Child Protection Act, was announced. According to Connecticut General Assembly's Web site, Senate Bill 899 -- An Act Concerning the Sexual Assault or Exploitation of Children -- would "increase the penalties and monitoring of persons convicted of sexual offenses when the victim is under 13 years of age." Senate Bill 900 -- An Act Concerning the Penalty for Enticing a Minor -- would "increase the penalty for and supervision of a person who uses a computer to entice a child under thirteen of age to engage in prostitution or sexual activity for which such person may be charged with a criminal offense." State Sen. McKinney, who represents Weston, Fairfield, Easton and Newtown, introduced both bills. The original Jessica's Law was passed in Florida in 2005 after the abduction, rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Marie Lunsford by a repeat sex offender. It's difficult to think of a more reprehensible act and 21 states seem to agree as they've adopted legislation similar to Florida. "The question we're posing to our colleagues in the majority is simple, 'Do you believe, yes or no, that a criminal who sexually assaults a child should go to jail for 25 years to life?" asked Sen. McKinney in a press release distributed by the Senate Republican Office. "I believe, and the Senate Republican Caucus believes, that they should." Jessica's Law for Connecticut would legislate that individuals convicted of sexually assaulting a child 12 years of age or younger be sentenced to 25 years in prison for a first offense and life imprisonment for a second offense. Those convicted of promoting child prostitution, or employing a child under 13 in pornography would also be subject to the provisions of the law. Additionally, released child predators would be on probation for the rest of their life and would be required to wear a GPS tracking device. Under the terms of the Internet Child Protection Act, the same penalties would apply to pedophiles convicted of using a computer to entice a child under 13 into having sex. The penalty for enticing children aged 13-15 would be a mandatory 10-year sentence for a first offense.> Two additional provisions of SB900 would establish an Internet Predator Task Force Unit within the State Police and create an Internet Safety Course for elementary and middle school students. Both are excellent ideas. Jessica's Law is not without opponents. Some question its efficacy while others question whether the restrictions placed on released offenders will make it too hard for them to reintegrate into society. Another issue is the cost involved. McKinney said in a phone interview that the downstream costs are difficult to predict but doesn't believe that we should let financial considerations stand in the way of doing what needs to be done. We agree. When the Westport News expressed concern regarding the lack of judicial discretion, McKinney pointed out that, while there would be no judicial discretion in sentencing, there would still be flexibility in the legal system prior to sentencing. This is an important point. When the mandatory minimum sentences are so great, the system needs to be able to weed out cases where there may be extenuating circumstances. Although it is hard to imagine what those circumstances might be, we have to allow for the possibility. On the other hand, there is absolutely no reason why recidivistic predators shouldn't be dealt with severely. Though the initiative was introduced with political overtones, surely the concerns reflected in Jessica's Law are universal. As to the Internet Child Protection Act, it's time all of our laws started catching up with what's happening online. http://www.westport-news.com/opinion/ci_5093377

ILLINOIS,PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY YOU "DO NOT" WANT JESS
I would like to hear some accountability. I emailed Obama 3 times last year to read his reply dance around a straight answer. "WHY" can't Illinois push to get the law in. Where are the peoples voice? Illinois, let's SPEAK OUT, we can go to Bill O'Reilly's site at Fox News, he would help if some voices would yell. Come join me! For the sake of our children, please! First Amendment Wednesday, January 31, 2007 By Bill O'Reilly As you may know, the state of Vermont has gone hard left. That's the reason their politicians voted down Jessica's Law. And a couple of judges gave very lenient sentences to dangerous child predators. cont; http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,248927,00.html

Walsh, Dewhurst Working On Jessica's Law For Texas Jan 29, 2007 06:30 PM EST John Walsh from America's Most Wanted is in town pushing a Jessica's Law and a new video promoting child safety that he wants kids in all Texas schools to watch. Walsh began using the media 25 years ago, after his own son was kidnapped and killed and no one, at the time, put alerts out to find him. Now Walsh wants more than just alerts. He wants punishment and prevention when it comes to child danger. The video is called "When It's Not Safe." It is a video targeting kids from kindergarten to second grade, a video Walsh wishes his six-year-old son could have watched 26 years ago. "Adam was kidnapped in July of 1981," Walsh said. "There was no national center for missing and exploited children. There was no federal response. The FBI refused to get involved, even though Adam was only 6 years old. There were no Amber Alerts. There was nothing." Walsh has made it his life's work since then to make sure there is something. He's now in town to work with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on writing a Jessica's Law for Texas and to talk about preventing these cases before it's too late. "This is to make children aware of stranger safety," Walsh said, "and the fact that someone they sort of know and seems to be OK in their circle may be someone who preys upon them and hurts them." Each school in Texas will get a case of DVDs and books for the children to take home and look at with their parents. They're part of Dewhurst's Texas First program. "That little girl in New Mexico who escaped from the trunk of the car, she was a hero," said Julie Aigner-Clark with the Baby Einstein Company. "She knew how to fight and get away. And that's what we're trying to teach kids. We must talk to kids about this." "I wish that all existed back in 1981," Walsh said. "Maybe then, Adam would be alive." http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=6006639&nav=menu73_1

Oklahoma February 22, 2007 Panel passes Jessica's Law sex offender bill By AP OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legislation that would require lengthy prison sentences for child sex offenders was passed by a legislative panel Tuesday. The measure approved by the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Subcommittee would increase the penalty for sex offenses against children under 12 to at least 25 years and up to life in prison. There is currently no minimum sentence. "Research shows us there's no cure for these people," said the measure's author, Rep. Dave Dank, R-Oklahoma City. "We can't give these people a second chance to ruin lives." Dank held up pictures of his two grandchildren during a hearing before committee members. "As a proud grandfather, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my grandchildren," Dank said. Dank's bill is modeled after legislation known as "Jessica's Law" that has been enacted in other states. The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was kidnapped and killed by a registered sex offender who had been living near her family's home. A similar measure passed the House last year but died in the Senate. The measure, House Bill 1816, now goes to the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee for a hearing. http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2007/02/15/news/state/news774.txt

Jessica's Law has been passed in Texas.. *And today, May 2nd, the House rejected it. * :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :evil:

:) Versions of 'Jessica's Law' go into effect in Connecticut & Tennessee on July 1, 2007 :)

Ohio although it voted Jessicas Law in by Senate does not I repeat does NOT have Jessicas Law. Further more I just got off the phone with Mr. Johnson and it appears the later statement is just that a later statement on toughness for sexual offenders in the state of Georgia. The phone conversation had to do with one question. When will Steven Lee West be arrested and sent back to OHIO via the Georgia Governors Office Extradition Department? One year to the day of this day is when West information came to his presence in Georgia and still after recieving his arrest warrant in Georgia no result of an arrest. Mr. West is still freely roaming the streets and not registered. This leaves a black eye for the state of Georgia. Especially since they have Jessicas Legacy enacted for those who hold innocence yet. What I'd like to know is why the hold up? He's Ohio's VAL and should be promptly placed on the keep an eye out for list. Perdue needs to send West back to Ohio and stop protecting him. And O'Rielly seems to have fallen off course with his mission of the sexual deveants who abduct and kill our children. Maybe he's scared he'll be like IMUS with out a JOB. Ohio need's a campaign for this as well. Please e-mail the Governors Office at Kim.Vogel@governor.ohio.gov Ask Ted Strickland why no enactment of Jessicas Law? Ask when will it happen for our children of the future to be safer than what they are now. And thank all who write to him.

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