FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEX OFFENDER BILL IN DANGER
Annapolis, Maryland March 27, 2010 - Senate Bill 622 is facing a major hurdle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Chairman Brian Frosh from Montgomery County has been holding up the bill in committee and not taking the bill out for a vote. Senator Nancy Jacobs has indicated to Citizens for Jessica’s Law that SHE WILL AMEND Senate Bill 622 from 20 years to 10 years as a compromise to Chairman Frosh to get the bill out of committee. This is unacceptable to the child victims of rape. We overwhelmingly denounce and reject this amendment. The children of Maryland do not wish to have their safety compromised by anyone for the sake of a political deal. The bill was already amended in the House Judiciary Committee from 20 years to 15 years and we are in total support of that amendment. However, we will NOT support any amendment less than a mandatory 15 years to life without the possibility of parole by any member of the Maryland General Assembly. The companion bill, House Bill 254 (sponsored by Delegate Steve Schuh and Mike Smigiel) passed unanimously this week in the Maryland House of Delegates 136-0. The bill (as amended) mandates a 15 year sentence for the rape of a child without the possibility of parole. “Victims have a life sentence with no parole. Those who rape a child deserve no less. 15 years is not nearly enough time to serve for raping a child. To amend this bill to 10 years is a smack in the face to all of us,” said Ginny Meerman, Mrs. Maryland 2009. The rape of a child is the most deplorable and despicable act one can commit (other than murder). It is a disgrace that we have to politic away the justice of our child victims. Child rapists belong in prison where there is no compromise and where there are no children to rape. Citizens for Jessica’s Law hold our children dear to our hearts and for that we will not compromise.
Joan Harris, President, Citizens for Jessica's Law
Jerry Norton, Vice-President, Citizens for Jessica's Law
