Jessica's Law in NC
"Why Jessica’s Law Failed In North Carolina"
By: Mark A. Palmer July 2006
Taking Back Charlotte Mecklenburg contacted our city, county, and state leaders help make a difference with stronger laws for sex offenders. In the past year, we have gone rounds with Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Rick Glazier, Rep. Karen Ray, and Rep. Jennifer Weiss over Jessica’s Law. The bill they supported was nothing like Jessica’s law and was not strict enough on sex offenders.
Representative Julia C. Howard presented Bill 1921 that is more demanding on sexual offenders and a stronger version of Jessica’s Law that would mandatory sentencing, higher registration requirements well as a GPS monitoring of sexual offenders. This would help provide information for school officials, law enforcement, with harsher sentences to sex offenders that are much needed.
“Bill 1921 has many of the items listed are not registration changes but affect other areas of substantive law.”
Seems that various parties would not allow HB 1921 be heard or known 2006 session. Representative Jennifer Weiss would not take a stand and push Speaker Black to enact. Representative Jennifer Weiss felt fitting- in and playing the game is more important than sex offenders and the welfare of our children. Our government officials need to remember that our children are not Democrats or Republicans just children!
Our group heard the political crap of excuses: State Budget, Party Issue, Have to get along and try each year, Take this step-at-time, Compromise as we do, we take parts of a bill we like and disregard rest, Raleigh cannot pass law as this.
We found out the truth, Speaker Black and various parties are very liberal on crime of any kind they rather just band-aid problem. They do not want to deal with cost of additional prisons as well. They have a self-agenda for their gain and our children do not matter them.
Residential Restrictions:
Bill originally said, “Prohibits a registered sex offender from residing within 1,000 feet of a public, private, or parochial school, a childcare center, or a public swimming pool. The bill would grandfather offenders who have established a residence prior to December 1, 2006. It also provides that changes in the ownership or use of property that occur after an offender establishes residency shall not be the basis for a violation of the residency restrictions.”
Bill 1896 that passed said, “Creates a new Class G felony for a person who is registered or required to register to knowingly reside within thousand feet of a public or nonpublic school or childcare center. Persons who have established a residence prior to the effective date of the act are grandfathered.”
What happen to swimming pools that first version said? Why were parks not listed as well? Locations like pools and parks have been prime areas that children have encountered sex offenders. For a sex offender to live by a school, daycare, swimming pool well as a park is dangerous. Known sex offenders have admitted to this. For a sex offender be allowed live by children is like AA meeting in a bar.
Following quotes are from Mike Baker of Associated Press article, "Legislature gives final approval to sex offender restrictions."
Rep. Bruce Goforth, (D-Buncombe) bill’s sponsor said, “Sex offenders that already live thousand feet of a school or daycare will not be forced to move but may have to changed jobs.
Rep. Rick Glazier, (D-Cumberland) said, "This is probably one of the most comprehensive reforms in the country," well as "This bill truly incorporates the best that we were able to find in states that have dealt with this issue.”
Rep. Karen Ray, (R-Iredell) said, "We have no tolerance for the people trying to harm the children of North Carolina,"
Representative’s quotes show their self-aggrandizing; I have seen people on crack have more sense.
Using the name, Jessica’s Law was a disgrace to Jessica Lunsford’s memory. Since the bill does not hold same striations as Jessica’s Law. That for political reasons Senate push bill using Jessica’s Law. Bill 1896 which North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed had name changed because it did not measure up Jessica’s Law.
Jessica’s Law came from Jessica Lunsford the 9-year-old girl that was sexually abused, kidnapped, and buried alive in Florida. Jessica Lunsford came from Gaston County, N.C., before moving to Florida. Many states have strengthened their sex offender laws like Florida and South Carolina sad that North Carolina could not join in.
Lack of North Carolina House Bill 1896:
To increase the penalty for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child to life in prison or a split sentence of a mandatory minimum 25-year prison term, followed by lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring.
Sexual predators that murder their victims now qualify for the death penalty in capital cases.
All sex offenders would serve their entire sentence without early parole.
Failing to re-register as a sexual offender, predator, harboring well as assisting a sexual predator offender become a third degree felony.
Require all county misdemeanor probation officials to search the sexual offender registry when a new offender is assigned to them.
North Carolina State Education Department well as FBI becomes aware of all sex offenders well as any questionable reported behavior towards children.
Close any loopholes in North Carolina laws or “one-strike laws.”
A sex offender past or present not allowed dwell / living near school, park, pool.
Create a two thousand foot “predator-free” zone around schools, parks, and pools to prevent sex offenders from being near where our children learn and play.
What has happen in our State is a disgrace for our children. The compromise action by our state legislation for sex offenders has sickened thousand of us today. Our local, state leaders could make a stand but they do not. Parents wanted the full force of Jessica’s Law. Why some will say, “We have made a crack down on sex offenders, children that are abused would say, compromise.”
Terri Roseberry, who said her daughter was sexually abused by a relative at the age of six, had been advocating for the full Jessica's Law.
"But this final version isn't anywhere close to Jessica's Law and the changes were just a minor victory," Roseberry said. "If we had mandatory 25-year sentences, my daughter would not be a sexual abuse victim."
"This is a whole lot short of the actual Jessica's Law," said Rep. Russell Capps, R-Wake, who has pushed for stiff sex offender restrictions. "This is a step, but it's a very small step toward solving a big problem."
“I see some improvements still not enough looking at the new sex offender bill that passed one can see lack of sentencing and relax requirements”, said 20-year veteran officer.
Solutions Presently:
Over past years, I have given time to push for tougher laws on sex offenders. Personally, I have worked with sexually abused children and have seen the effects. Words cannot even begin to describe seeing a raped of child’s innocent soul.
Governor Mike Easley with North Carolina General Assembly showed their liberal mindless when comes our children’s safety. State officials, city, county, and our schools fall short of providing safe environment with laws protecting our children. We need to remind our state leadership, “No Compromise” for sex offenders. North Carolina still requires stricter laws for sex offenders.
Help turn this around and make the needed changes please contact your state representatives well as the governor’s office. Let Governor Mike Easley and General Assembly members know, if this travesty is not corrected, you will support someone that will.
Governor Michael F. Easley (919) 733-4240
North Carolina General Assembly (919) 733-7928
Comments
Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.0078 seconds.
16 queries taking 0.0063 seconds, 7 records returned.
Page size 10 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.