"Three Strikes" Life Sentence Bill to Target Sex Offender

Sponsors Senator Tarr and Representative Wong joined by 29 other Legislators

 

Amongst Bills earning broad based support by last Friday's cosponsoring deadline is new legislation targeting criminal sex offenders.  The new “Three Strikes” legislation requires life-sentences for criminals convicted of any three sex offenses ranging from lewd and lascivious acts up to forcible rape of a child. Sex-offenders convicted under this statute would also be ineligible for a reduction in sentence or parole. Protect Mass Children has spearheaded this effort.

Of the legislation's goals, lead sponsor Representative Donald Wong, "We are here to protect the children because they cannot defend themselves.  In my mind, “three strikes” is too many because the “three” convictions are the only three times these predators have caught.  In this age, we’re too concerned with the criminal and not the victims.  A criminal is one person but in the case of abuse it affects the victim and their families.  It affects these children for a lifetime.  I hope that everyone will look into their hearts and vote for this bill."

 

“Any person who is convicted multiple times of serious sexual offenses clearly cannot be rehabilitated and poses an obvious threat to public safety,” said Sen. John F. Keenan, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “While we shouldn't forget that serial sexual offenders are mentally ill, the safety of general public has to come first.”    

“Parole and early release are a privilege that should be reserved only for offenders who have demonstrated good behavior, remorse for the crimes committed, and a commitment to good citizenship going forward,” Senator Knapik offered.  “The primary responsibility of a government is to ensure the public safety and habitual offenders work against that goal,” Knapik concluded. 

The full list of sponsors are as follows:

Senate Bill Lead Sponsor: Senator Bruce Tarr
House Bill Lead Sponsor: Representative Donald Wong

Co-Sponsors

Sen. Sal DiDomenico
Sen. Robert Hedlund
Sen. Brian Joyce
Sen. John Keenan
Sen. Michael Knapik
Sen. Richard Ross
House Minority Leader Bradley Jones
Rep. Paul Adams 
Rep. F. Jay Barrows
Rep. Richard Bastien
Rep. Carlo Basile
Rep. Matthew Beaton
Rep. Nick Collins 
Rep. Edward Coppinger 
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell
Rep. Geoff Diehl
Rep. James Dwyer
Rep. Paul Frost
Rep. Kevin Kuros
Rep. Steven Levy
Rep. Marc Lombardo
Rep. Shaunna O' Connell
Rep. George Peterson
Rep. Elizabeth Poirer
Rep. George Ross
Rep. Joyce Spiliotis 
Rep. Benjamin Swan 
Rep. David Torrisi
Rep. Daniel Webster

The legislation is listed in the State Senate as SD 00956 and in the State House as HD 01332.  The legislation will first pass through the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

 

Protect Mass Children is a non-profit organization committed to protecting the children of Massachusetts from sexual predators. The founders of Protect Mass Children could no longer watch convicted child predators be released from incarceration only to re-victimize more children.  Protect Mass Children goals include passing legislation requiring stronger mandatory sentences for people who victimize children; and create and provide educators and parents with materials that will inform, enable and empower children to be protected and protect themselves.  More information can be found at www.protectmasschildren.org.