Dank's Sex Offender Bill Passes House Panel
State Rep. David Dank's measure to increase required prison sentences for sex offenders passed a House subcommittee Tuesday. The measure is part of the House GOP's Safe Families legislative platform.
"We must do everything we can to ensure that Oklahoma is a safe place to grow up. Far too many sex offenders come back to our communities where they can prey on the innocent," said Dank (R-Oklahoma City), the author of House Bill 1816.
HB 1816 would increase the penalty for sex offenses against children under 12 to a minimum sentence of 25 years and not more than life imprisonment. No minimum sentence currently exists for such offenses. At a House Criminal Justice and Corrections Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Dank held up pictures of his two grandchildren.
"As a proud grandfather, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my grandchildren," Dank said. "The current minimum required sentences for sex offenders are simply not enough. We know that it is almost impossible to 'cure' sex offenders, and that they will repeat their crimes if given the opportunity. We can't give these predators a second chance to ruin lives."
Dank's HB 1816 is modeled after Florida legislation commonly referred to as "Jessica's Law" that has already been enacted in states across the nation. The law was named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was kidnapped and killed by a registered sex offender who had been living near her. A similar measure passed the Oklahoma House overwhelmingly last year, but it died in the State Senate.
"We must do everything we can to ensure that Oklahoma is a safe place to grow up. Far too many sex offenders come back to our communities where they can prey on the innocent," said Dank (R-Oklahoma City), the author of House Bill 1816.
HB 1816 would increase the penalty for sex offenses against children under 12 to a minimum sentence of 25 years and not more than life imprisonment. No minimum sentence currently exists for such offenses. At a House Criminal Justice and Corrections Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Dank held up pictures of his two grandchildren.
"As a proud grandfather, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my grandchildren," Dank said. "The current minimum required sentences for sex offenders are simply not enough. We know that it is almost impossible to 'cure' sex offenders, and that they will repeat their crimes if given the opportunity. We can't give these predators a second chance to ruin lives."
Dank's HB 1816 is modeled after Florida legislation commonly referred to as "Jessica's Law" that has already been enacted in states across the nation. The law was named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was kidnapped and killed by a registered sex offender who had been living near her. A similar measure passed the Oklahoma House overwhelmingly last year, but it died in the State Senate.
Labels: 2007 Legislature, David Dank, Jessica's Law
posted by Mike McCarville @ 3:27 PM
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