Vitally Important Statistics

Can you recall the anticipation you felt as a child, when summer approached and you entered into your last days of a school year? For most of us as children, “summer” brought freedom from classes and homework, and long days of innocent play. In contrast, there will be no such vacation for the California Legislature. However, the Legislature’s work over the summer months should directly benefit the innocence and safety of children.

While many recent research studies disagree on the percentage of sex offenders who “relapse” into further criminal behavior, some research studies suggest that rates of recidivism – a return to criminal behavior after release from incarceration – are highest among sexual offenders, and the use of Internet technology by sexual predators both increases an abuser’s level of addiction and ability to identify potential new victims. Statistics tell a very serious story about continued sexual assaults on minors. A 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that – out of over 9,000 released sex offenders – they were four times more likely than those not convicted of such offenses to commit a sex crime.

While two measures that would have protected children online remained in appropriations’ committees last week, two others passed through to the second chamber. SB 1204 (Runner, R-Lancaster) would prevent convicted sex offenders from opening accounts with – or participating on – social-networking sites, and would require them to report their e-mail addresses, online addresses, and instant-messaging aliases to law enforcement. SB 1361 (Corbett, D-San Leandro) would prohibit social networking sites from displaying the home address or phone number of a minor.

Each of these young girls lost their lives as a result of a particularly heinous sex crime. Jessica’s Law (Proposition 83), passed by voters in 2006, strengthened penalties and restrictions for violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters. Megan’s Law, passed by the Legislature in 2004, provided the public with Internet access to detailed information on registered sex offenders.

Two Southern California teens – Amber DuBois and Chelsea King – lost their lives to the same convicted sex offender, and both girls’ deaths have spurred legislative efforts aimed at preventing the victimization of other young girls. AB 1844 (Fletcher, R-San Diego), known as Chelsea’s Law, would provide increased punishments for sexual crimes when the victim is under 14 years of age. This bill passed the Assembly on Thursday and is now in the Senate.

A package of bills in memory of Amber DuBois, aimed at aiding police response to reports of missing children, was introduced last week – by gutting and amending unrelated bills. One, authored by Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucaipa) would require distinctive, specially marked drivers’ licenses for registered sex offenders. Three other bills, authored by Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), would enhance training for law enforcement, better equipping officers to respond to cases of missing children.  

While legislators have a scheduled summer recess during the month of July, they are precluded from taking it if the budget is not passed – and rarely is it passed by then. More likely, they will spend their summer haggling over budget solutions – and continuing to process legislation. One benefit of extended budget haggling may be the passage of bills intended to provide greater protection to children and augmented penalties for sexual offenses.

For more information regarding protecting children from potential harm, click here and here.