Assemblyman Marc Butler (R,C,I-Newport) today joined Governor Pataki in calling for passage of measures that would further protect New Yorkers from sexual predators, including Jessica’s Law, which would impose tougher penalties on those who commit sexual crimes against children.
“Jessica’s Law would ensure that dangerous predators stay behind bars for a mandatory sentence of 25-to-life for the most violent of sexual crimes against children,” said Butler. “Our measures would also stop sexual predators by increasing the age threshold for crimes against our children and providing tougher penalties for the most violent sexual crimes and dangerous repeat sex offenders.”
The legislation is named for Jessica Lunsford, a nine-year-old-girl who was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by a registered sex offender living in her neighborhood in Florida. Jessica’s Law was first signed in Florida last year. The New York measure is modeled on the original Florida law and, if passed, would be one of the toughest laws in the country against violent sexual predators of children.
“Last week’s passage of Megan’s Law legislation designed to keep sex offenders on the state registry was a major victory. Let’s keep up the good work. Jessica’s Law would increase penalties against sex offenders that prey upon the most vulnerable New Yorkers. This important legislation must become law,” concluded Butler.
Several of the provisions that are proposed as part of Jessica’s Law have been acted on by the state Senate since 1996, but not by the Assembly majority.