Sex offenders

There is no magic wand, no single bullet to deal with the problem of sex predators. That is why several critical pieces of legislation have been authored this session to address the problem. One of them, Senate Bill 536 has been signed into law, the bill that eliminates the funding for and the special committee assigned to help find a location for that ridiculous facility to house dozens and dozens of sexually violent persons. Another bill, Assembly Bill 591 the GPS bill will be taken up soon, and approved by the state Senate and sent to the Governor. And another bill, Senate Bill 629, was approved unanimously today by the Assembly's Judiciary Committee. The "lock them up for life" bill now goes to the full Assembly. It has already passed the state Senate. This bill is another critical piece of legislation in the arsenal aimed at protecting children from evil predators.

Arguably, it may be the most effective of them all. And yet, you probably won't hear much about it on local newscasts or the local paper. On March 6,

2006, the author of Senate Bill 629, state Senator Mary Lazich said the following in a news column released to the media:

LOCK THEM UP FOR LIFE

A legislative column by state Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin)

It is time to take our most serious sex offenders and lock them up for life.

Every day we hear horror stories of sexually violent persons preying upon young, innocent children. They are kidnapped, molested, even killed by convicted, registered sex offenders. The offenders had served their time, only to be released back into society, ready to strike again.

Sexually violent persons are untreatable and extremely dangerous, and should never be allowed to return to society to repeat their disgusting crimes. Legislation I have authored, Senate Bill 629, imposes life imprisonment for those convicted of first degree sexual assault of a child.

Defining the crime as first degree sexual assault of a child resulting in great bodily harm captures sexually violent persons that are the Chapter 980 offenders, the worst of the worst. Upon completion of their prison terms they are transferred to the Sand Ridge Treatment Center. Housing an inmate in the Department of Corrections costs $26,200 per year. The cost for a sexually violent person at Sand Ridge is much higher at $116,600. In addition there is the cost for housing Chapter 980 sexually violent persons that exit Sand Ridge, driving the cost up even higher. The average annual cost for individuals on supervised release is $59,000. Targeting the Chapter 980 offenders locks sexually violent persons up for life and saves significant money.

Life in prison is a just, reasonable, and appropriate penalty for criminals that commit these heinous sex crimes. Children are precious. I believe it is time to tip the scales of justice in their favor.

Thanks to my friend in the Senate for the tip!!!!