Senate passes sex offender legislation

The State Senate passed legislation increasing the monitoring of sex offenders by authorizing civil commitment of convicted sex offenders who have served their prison terms, but remain a clear threat to commit additional sex crimes.
The Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act, which passed by a 53 to 8 vote, allows the State to continue managing sex offenders when their criminal sentences end, either by civilly confining the most dangerous recidivistic sex offenders, or by permitting strict and intensive parole supervision of offenders who pose a lesser risk of harm.
“Statistics show that nearly half of all violent sex offenders commit new crimes once they are released from prison; some are even more violent and depraved than before,” said Senator Serphin Maltese, who co-sponsored the legislation. “This measure will save lives, protect our children and ensure that our communities are safe from sexual predators who roam our streets in search of their next innocent victim.”
- Pete Davis