Tonight Bill O’Reilly of Foxnews Channel will be announcing at 8PM on The O’Reilly Factor whether the Governor of each state is either on board, against, or didn’t even respond, Jessica’s Law for sex offenders which requires 25-to-life on the first offence. Via BNN.
Jessica’s Law for First Time Sex Offenders
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I just have to say that myself these people should be put away for life but then we would really have an over crowding problem wouldn’t we. I am a mother who no longer has her daughter, in my opinion, due to a sexual, disgusting, lurking predator. He was a mental health tech in a hospital where at the time, my 13 year old daughter had to go for a while. She had bipolar and needed to be hospitalized. This 29 year old man sexually and emotionally abused my daughter. He started the relationship while she was there and then when she was released it continued for approx. 4-5 months. She would disappear and we had no idea where she was. Later we found out. She was with him. In May or so of that year she began really going down hill. Extremly depressed, wouldn’t get out of bed sometimes, wouldn’t even comb her hair. Then other times she would dissappear or get in trouble with the law and ended up in Juvenile Hall again and then sent to a youth camp. While at the youth camp for I would say a week or so, we got a phone call that my daughter was in the hospital because she attempted suicide. It was very close. She was transferred to another hospital where we would find out about this MONSTER. To her he was a Knight. She finally told about the relationship with this man. She was released and seemed to be doing o.k and then we have another attempt. I took her to the hospital and she was put into residential treatment again. November of that year, he was arrested on 27 counts of sexual assult. January of 2003 he was sentenced 2-10 years for statutory sexual seduction and child abuse with substantial emotional harm.
My daughter had two more suicide attempts and hospitalizations after that. In the sessions he would be the topic alot. In her heart, he was somehow still there. She worte many poems about him. Asked why he was being punished and not her too. “It was consentual, so how can he be in trouble” she would say. Febuary 2005, we came home to find her int he bathtub full of blood. Rushed her to the hospital, she stayed, got released. She really seemed like she was starting to get over that part of her life and move on. She got her first job (16 now) and loved it. She seemed happy. Around April 4, 2005 or so, she disappeared again. Aprill 11, 2005 she came home and we called her P.O. because she was on probation. We needed to re-group and figure out what to do next. They picked her up and took her to Juvenile Hall. She was booked at 12:30 PM. She was placed on suicide watch due to her past and the recent attempt. At 3:15 PM they found her hanging by her sheets in her cell and she was gone.
This man is partially responsible for her death. No, he didn’t shoot her or strangle himself but he might as well have. He got 2-10 years and I got a life sentence.
You tell me what is a fair sentence.
North Carolina still does not have strong enough laws for the punishment, for the crime of molestation to minors. Many offenders are moving to states that have ineffective laws. North Carolina has many sex offenders, who have fallen thought the cracks. By changing their identity and not re-registering once moved, these offenders manipulate the system. Presently, our state is failing protect our children and we have seen a rise in sexual crimes.
Individuals that commit sexual crimes against children need to be stopped. These individuals need incarceration or strict comprehensive monitoring.
Often, administration has failed to let law enforcement know of the placement of paroled sex offenders in their communities. Allowing violent sex offenders to go free and not providing mandatory hearings, stricter penalties for non-compliances. Has allowed dangerous parolees to remain free, even after they violated parole.
We hope that North Carolina lawmakers will take a stand for tougher laws against child predators. This past year, we voiced our outraged to North Carolina lawmakers for failing to provide stricter laws against sex offenders.
Various representatives have contacted us and were disgusted with the lack of support by former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black, as well as, the compromises North Carolina General Assembly made.
Sadly, the petitions regarding Jessica’s Law never made it to the North Carolina General Assembly last year. We hope that things will be different this year and the North Carolina General Assembly will see a petition this year.
Remember, North Carolina General Assembly our children should not be viewed as Democratic or Republican issues this is a human safety issue. Please do not allow politics and compromise to get in the way of protecting our families.
Even our State Attorney General Roy Cooper realizes North Carolina laws are lenient on such matters. We are grateful for his public stand on calling for harsher laws on sex offenders.
Jessica Lunsford was taken from her home sexually assaulted and murdered by a convicted sex offender that was just released from prison. This 9-year-old girl could have been your daughters, just imagine the anguish a parent would have to live with. Sexual predators are always looking for their next victim. Psychological damage inflicted on defenseless child lasts a lifetime!
The following article,??? Why Jessica’s Law Failed In North Carolina” by Mark A. Palmer, in July 2006 gives in depth look on how North Carolina General Assembly and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley failed to fully pass Jessica’s Law. House Bill 1921 fully passed would have brought stricter sentencing and guidelines for North Carolina Sex Offenders.
“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, to help make a difference with stronger laws regarding 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 it 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 have mandatory sentencing, higher registration requirements, as well as a GPS monitoring of sexual offenders. This would have help provide crucial information for school officials and law enforcement. Arming the judicial system with the ability to give harsher sentences to sex offenders, those repeats offend, thus protecting the public.
“Bill 1921 has many of the items listed, that are not registration changes, but affect other areas of substantive law.???
Seems that various parties would not allow HB 1921 be heard or be known about in the 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 dealing with sex offenders and protecting the welfare of our children. Our government officials need to remember that our children are not Democrats or Republicans they are just children!
Our group has heard the political crap and excuses: State Budget, Party Issue, having to get along and try each year, the list goes on. They compromise, to get a weaker bill passed taking the parts of a bill that is popular and disregard the part that has teeth. Raleigh cannot pass a law as weak as this and expect it to be effective. 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 costs of additional prisons as well as train personnel to task force this issue. They have a self-agenda for their gain and our children do not matter them, it isn’t “cost effective.???
Residential Restrictions:
The 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 and again nothing is truly done, except posturing. I have seen people on crack that have more common 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. For political reasons, the Senate pushed a bill using the name Jessica’s Law. Bill 1896, which North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed, had a name changed because it did not measure up to the true striations of 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 , it is sad that North Carolina could not join in.
Lacks 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? It is a disgrace not to protect our children. The compromising actions by our state legislation for sex offenders have sickened thousand of us. Our local, state leaders could have made a stand but they chose not to. Parents wanted the full force of Jessica’s Law. While some will say, “We have made a crack down on sex offenders, children that are abused would say, “It was compromised and made ineffective.???
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 the rape of child’s innocent soul. The soul is amputated and takes a lifetime, to repair, if ever.
Governor Mike Easley with North Carolina General Assembly showed their liberal mindlessness when came to our children’s safety. State Officials, City, County, and our Schools fall short of providing safe environment with effective laws protecting our children. We need to remind our state leadership, “No Compromise??? 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
Thank You,
S. Peabody
Mark A. Palmer
Take Back Charlotte Mecklenburg
takebackcharlottemecklenburg@yahoo.com