Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Crime Jessica's Law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime Jessica's Law. Show all posts

Saturday, April 10, 2010

MD General Assembly: Sex Offender Legislations Stalls in Session's Final Days

MD Senate GOP Header

Sex Offender Legislations Stalls in Session's Final Days

If meaningful progress is to be made in the 2010 session, it will require last-minute heroics by Citizens for Jessica's Law over the next three days.

Governor Martin O'Malley's package of sex offender bills has passed - but his measures are viewed as administrative tinkering that fail to accomplish the stricter penalties viewed as most effective by supporters of "Jessica's Law."

The Senate has passed both measures that are the focus of lobbying by Citizens for Jessica's Law. The first measure requires a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years without parole for a second degree rape or sex offense against a child. Senate Bill 622, sponsored by Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs, passed the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the full Senate and now sits in the House Judiciary Committee.

However, when the House of Delegates passed House Bill 254, the companion bill to Senate Bill 622, it was amended to a shorter 15 year mandatory minimum sentence. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has conformed the House bill to the Senate bill by amending it back to the 20 year sentence. The conformed bill will be voted on the Senate floor today and sent back to the House Judiciary Committee.

If the 20-year mandatory minimum sentence is not adopted by the House Judiciary Committee, the House can hold the bill (and they fail) or appoint a conference committee to reconcile their differences. If conference committees are appointed by both chambers, they must complete their work by midnight on Monday when the session adjourns.

Joan Harris of Citizens for Jessica's Law questions the legislature's priorities when a bill banning hand-held cell phones is praised as a major accomplishment but critical measures to protect children from heinous crimes fail to pass.
For last minute updates from "Citizens for Jessica's Law," visit their website www.citizensforjessicaslaw.org click here or their Facebook fan page click here.

To see prior posts about the 2010 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, visit our website at www.mdsenategop.com

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Senator Nancy Jacobs: Please continue to help us pass Jessica's Law in MD

Senator Nancy Jacobs: Please continue to help us pass Jessica's Law in MD

Senator Nancy Jacobs, District 34, Maryland, Harford and Cecil Counties, NancyJacobs.com

April 3, 2010


Senator Jacobs with Mark Lunsford at the recent hearings.

I know that you agree that as a state we cannot afford to be lenient on child rapists. I strongly believe our children are our most precious asset and each day of delay in passing tougher child sexual predator laws puts more Maryland children at risk.

But the good news is that our battle for tougher child sexual predator laws crossed another hurdle this week when Senate Bill 622 "Crimes--Sexual Offenses Against Children--Penalties" passed the Senate on 2nd reader on Friday (2nd reader is where other Senators may offer amendments and ask questions. 3rd reader is the final vote which will be early next week.

In case you forgot, SB622 increases the mandatory minimum sentence from 5 to 20 years for child sexual predators 18 years or older convicted of a second degree rape or second degree sex offense against a victim younger than the age of 13.

While we may have won this battle, the war is far from over. SB622 faces a series of more hurdles until it goes to the governor for his signature to become law. The next step when SB622 clears the Senate is that it will go the House of Delegates' Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee previously passed a weaker version of this bill which called for a 15 year mandatory minimum. We will need your help in asking members of the House committee to support the full 20 year mandatory minimum sentence for rape.

Please Contact the Committee

  • You can contact (via e-mail and phone call) members of the House Judiciary Committee by clicking on their name at this link: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/com/05jud.html
  • Your message to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman and committee members should be:
    "Please pass SB 622 with the full 20 year mandatory minimum sentence for the rape of a child."


Watch the story on Fox 45 Baltimore

Our children who were raped were never given a choice, but as legislators we do have a choice to make our children, families and communities safer. I appreciate all of your efforts to date and your support of my legislation.

In this blessed weekend, I wish you and your family a safe holiday.

Sincerely,


Nancy Jacobs
Senate Minority Whip – District 34 (Harford and Cecil County)

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com