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COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Siptroth |
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October 18, 2007
Safeguarding our communities’ children from predators
Every week -- if not every day -- the news features stories about children who have been assaulted, many times sexually, by a predator. It is a despicable crime for which there is never an excuse. With the increased news coverage, many communities are doing more to protect their children, and I am working in Harrisburg to protect them as well.
Recently, I launched a petition on my Web site for residents who want to help me in urging the General Assembly to act on a bill I have co-sponsored that would strengthen Megan’s Law and close a harmful loophole in current regulation.
Believe it or not, current law allows people convicted of soliciting minors on the Internet to dodge the requirements mandated under Megan’s Law! I believe the Internet is a useful educational tool, especially for children, but it cannot remain a safe haven for child predators to operate.
The legislation I am co-sponsoring (H.B. 1803) would make important changes to Megan’s Law including: prohibiting a sexual predator whose victim is under 13 from living within 2,500 feet of any public, private or parochial K-6 school, or any licensed day-care center, public park or public swimming pool, and would require a person convicted of a sexual offense against a minor to wear a 24-hour-a-day electronic monitor when on probation or supervised release, among other stipulations.
Sadly, a recent audit by the state Attorney General’s Office found that over 10 years, Pennsylvania lost track of more than 300 child sex offenders, which illustrates the need to update and strengthen the current law.
For more information on this bill and to sign my online petition, please visit www.pahouse.com/Siptroth.
I have also introduced legislation that would heighten the chargeable offense for predators who indecently assault a child younger than 13. This bill would change that crime from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
I was motivated to introduce this legislation (H.B. 1016) in order to address the case of former judge here in Monroe County. The judge pleaded no contest to charges that he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl at a concert just three weeks after being elected to the bench, and despite the arrest, he was still able to be sworn in the following January for his $65,000-a-year job.
I have received widespread and bipartisan support from my colleagues who were equally appalled this injustice could happen here in Pennsylvania.
I hope you support my efforts and will work with me to develop common-sense laws to protect our children.
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CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman |