In 2005, Florida passes "Jessica's Law," a law that was created to increase the protection of children from sexual predators.
The coined name was inspired by the sexual abuse and subsequent death of nine year old Jessica Lunsford, who lived in Homosassa, Florida at the time of her abduction.
Her abductor not only lived in her neighborhood, he was a previously convicted sex offender.
He broke into her house and kidnapped her, and then took her to his trailer which was close by.
He was caught in Georgia on other charges, and then charged for the rape and murder of Jessica Lunsford.
He was given capital punishment as the sentence for his conviction.
Because he was a convicted sex offender before he kidnapped Jessica, one of the provisions added to the law calls for more aggressive monitoring of registered sex offenders.
If a person is convicted of lewd or lascivious molestation against a child under the age of 12, they will have to wear a satellite global positioning monitoring device for the rest of their life after they serve their time in prison.
Lifetime registry in the sex offender database is also mandatory after leaving prison for a sex crime under Jessica's Law.
The law calls for mandatory minimum prison sentences as well.
For sex crimes committed against children under the age of 12 that are covered by Jessica's Law, even first time offenders serve a minimum of 25 years in prison with no chance of parole until their minimum sentence has been served.
With mandatory minimum prison sentences and lifetime monitoring of sex offenders, Jessica's Law assists in the prevention of sex offenders becoming repeat sex offenders.
44 states currently have some form of Jessica's Law in place.
The states that have not adopted the legislation, nor do they have any form of Jessica's Law in place, are New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, Idaho, and Hawaii.
In an effort to sidestep the states that did not support Jessica's Law, the supporters proposed the "The Jessica Lunsford Act.
" The Jessica Lunsford Act mirrors Jessica's Law, however if passed, the act would become federal law instead of state law.
Although the bill was proposed, Congress never voted on it and it is no longer being considered.
However, advocates of the state law continue to rally support in order to convince the remaining six states to take action and pass the law.
Jessica's father travels nationwide and speaks on behalf of the law as well.
The coined name was inspired by the sexual abuse and subsequent death of nine year old Jessica Lunsford, who lived in Homosassa, Florida at the time of her abduction.
Her abductor not only lived in her neighborhood, he was a previously convicted sex offender.
He broke into her house and kidnapped her, and then took her to his trailer which was close by.
He was caught in Georgia on other charges, and then charged for the rape and murder of Jessica Lunsford.
He was given capital punishment as the sentence for his conviction.
Because he was a convicted sex offender before he kidnapped Jessica, one of the provisions added to the law calls for more aggressive monitoring of registered sex offenders.
If a person is convicted of lewd or lascivious molestation against a child under the age of 12, they will have to wear a satellite global positioning monitoring device for the rest of their life after they serve their time in prison.
Lifetime registry in the sex offender database is also mandatory after leaving prison for a sex crime under Jessica's Law.
The law calls for mandatory minimum prison sentences as well.
For sex crimes committed against children under the age of 12 that are covered by Jessica's Law, even first time offenders serve a minimum of 25 years in prison with no chance of parole until their minimum sentence has been served.
With mandatory minimum prison sentences and lifetime monitoring of sex offenders, Jessica's Law assists in the prevention of sex offenders becoming repeat sex offenders.
44 states currently have some form of Jessica's Law in place.
The states that have not adopted the legislation, nor do they have any form of Jessica's Law in place, are New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, Idaho, and Hawaii.
In an effort to sidestep the states that did not support Jessica's Law, the supporters proposed the "The Jessica Lunsford Act.
" The Jessica Lunsford Act mirrors Jessica's Law, however if passed, the act would become federal law instead of state law.
Although the bill was proposed, Congress never voted on it and it is no longer being considered.
However, advocates of the state law continue to rally support in order to convince the remaining six states to take action and pass the law.
Jessica's father travels nationwide and speaks on behalf of the law as well.
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