The House Judiciary Committee heard two bills today that serve to strengthen criminal penalties for sexual assault and murder.
Karen’s Law: House Bill 819, HD1 – RELATING TO CRIME. This bill mandates that minors aged 15-17 be tried as adults in cases of first and second degree murder. The bill passed unanimously in the House Human Services committee hearing last week. The bill was inspired by the case of Karen Ertell, who was found murdered by a teenage neighbor with whom she had repeated problems. The committee deferred the bill for decision making on Friday, 2/13/09.
Jessica’s Law: House Bill 620 – RELATING TO SENTENCING. This bill authorizes the court at sentencing to require a person with three or more convictions of sexual assault in the first degree to wear a global positioning system transmitter for up to 10 years after the person’s release from prison. Currently, 41 states have enacted similar legislation; it is referred to as “Jessica’s Law” in other states. The committee passed the bill with amendments, including changing the "gps" terminology to "electronic monitoring device" and putting on a defective date of 1/1/2046.
6 comments:
I don't understand why you would limit the language to state they must wear the electronic monitoring device for 10 years or less for three or more first degree sexual assault convictions. Really?? After the first conviction they should be wearing it for at least ten years; after the second conviction, they should be wearing it for at least ten years only after serving some serious time in prison; and after the third conviction they shouldn't have the opportunity to wear it because they should be serving life in prison!!! This is a perfect example of to weak laws we fail to enact. Hawaii, we have to get tougher!!!
failure to post this on the blog would be a failure to ensure the public has full visibility of serious topics of discussion. Thank you.
In response to "Mike". What evidence to you have that you can show, that proves that wearing a gps monitor improves public safety or reduces the possibility of a sex crime happening? You have no clue what the effect of gps monitoring does or the cost, but you somehow feel that this enactment provides some sense of security. If a repeat rapist is living next to my kids and has a monitor on, how does that make us safer? Start thinking with your brain, rather than your emotions.
I am thinking with my brain. Do we need scientific evidence to invest in protecting us against rhea freaks and monsters amongst us? I personally would pay the few extra cents to take away the liberties convicted Felon doesnt deserve. Quit protecting them! In fact....why don't you ask the parents of such victims, or a brutally assaulted rape Victim hat there position is on a GPS Monitor? I ALREADY KNOW THERE ANSWER!
Hello Anonymous, please allow me to "start thinking with my brain", if you don't mind. First of all, I am a taxpayer just like you I assume, so I have the right to state my opinion on here just as you are, correct? I thought so, thank you very much. I honestly DO NOT CARE about evidence of the GPS device or any other method of controlling these freaks or monsters from harming innocent people or worse, our children. I DO NOT CARE what it cost! I really don't. I'm in Hawaii with a population of well over a million people, so I personally would gladly pay the few cents or whatever the cost would be to have the peace of mind in knowing where are animals are at! This is not meant to be rude, offensive, or harsh in any way shape or form. If a "person" take it upon themselves to harm other people or children, then in "MY OPINION" they have given up there right to live freely in our society. They need to be jailed for a long, long time, and "WHEN" our judicial system allows them to roam our streets again when they get out, we need to know where they are. Please, do go into our registered sex offender database and look at the many hundreds of "sex offenders" that are repeat offenders. Repeat offenders, really? Honestly, our Judges are obviously week and give probation over and over, and over to most offenders. How can someone be a sex offender and be given the chance to be a repeat offender within say, a year? Really? What do you have to say when that same person repeats a third time? Would you still be worried about the cost or effectiveness of the S device? What about the hundreds or even thousands of sex offenses that occur every year that go unsolved because of lack of evidence? It could be many of them wouldn't have occured if many of our repeat offenders were wearing a GPS device. Again, this is only my opinion. Please, now I AM thinking with my emotion because maybe someone has to do so! It breaks my heart to see a parent, sister, or brother of a child victim of a sexual monster. Words cannot describe my emotion, anger, and frustration so yes, I do speak with emotion....and happy to do so!! Thank you very much!!
Hello Anonymous, please allow me to "start thinking with my brain", if you don't mind. First of all, I am a taxpayer just like you I assume, so I have the right to state my opinion on here just as you are, correct? I thought so, thank you very much. I honestly DO NOT CARE about evidence of the GPS device or any other method of controlling these freaks or monsters from harming innocent people or worse, our children. I DO NOT CARE what it cost! I really don't. I'm in Hawaii with a population of well over a million people, so I personally would gladly pay the few cents or whatever the cost would be to have the peace of mind in knowing where are animals are at! This is not meant to be rude, offensive, or harsh in any way shape or form. If a "person" take it upon themselves to harm other people or children, then in "MY OPINION" they have given up there right to live freely in our society. They need to be jailed for a long, long time, and "WHEN" our judicial system allows them to roam our streets again when they get out, we need to know where they are. Please, do go into our registered sex offender database and look at the many hundreds of "sex offenders" that are repeat offenders. Repeat offenders, really? Honestly, our Judges are obviously week and give probation over and over, and over to most offenders. How can someone be a sex offender and be given the chance to be a repeat offender within say, a year? Really? What do you have to say when that same person repeats a third time? Would you still be worried about the cost or effectiveness of the S device? What about the hundreds or even thousands of sex offenses that occur every year that go unsolved because of lack of evidence? It could be many of them wouldn't have occured if many of our repeat offenders were wearing a GPS device. Again, this is only my opinion. Please, now I AM thinking with my emotion because maybe someone has to do so! It breaks my heart to see a parent, sister, or brother of a child victim of a sexual monster. Words cannot describe my emotion, anger, and frustration so yes, I do speak with emotion....and happy to do so!! Thank you very much!!
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