Schwarzenegger Endorses Chelsea's Law
On April 20, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed California Assembly Bill 1844, named "Chelsea's Law," designed to strengthen criminal penalties for sexual offenders. The bill was introduced shortly after it was disclosed that John Albert Gardner III, who pled guilty in April 2010 to the brutal rape and murder of two San Diego teenagers, had been convicted in 2000 of molesting a 13-year-old girl. Gardner spent five years in prison for that offense, but considerable outrage was expressed over the fact that he was no longer on parole at the time of the murders, despite numerous parole violations.
The bill includes three main provisions.
1. A one-strike provision for the most serious crimes against children younger than 18 — putting even first-time offenders behind bars for life without the possibility of parole
2. The required lifetime parole with GPS monitoring of certain offenders — those committing sexual crimes against victims younger than 14 years old — after their release from prison
3. A convicted sex offender would be charged with a misdemeanor and a parole violation if found near a park where children frequent, resulting in a return to prison
The proposed measure met opposition from the California Public Defenders Association, and a challenge to the bill is expected in the California Senate.
Laws that substantially increase criminal penalties are often the result of reactions to horrific crimes. Criminals rarely consider the consequences of their actions or stop to reflect before committing even the most egregious offenses. With the prison population expanding, many argue that resources should be utilized to prevent such crimes from occurring at all. For example, results of California's three-strikes law have shown a negligible effect on overall recidivist rates.
Supporters of enhanced sex offender or sexual predator legislation often point to the reputedly high recidivist rates for sex offenders, arguing that treatment and rehabilitation are useless or largely ineffective. Many offender programs lack funds, however, and without well-funded studies that might result in effective treatment programs for sex offenders, there may be little else to address the causes of the most horrific crimes.
For more information on Chelsea's Law and how it may affect a case you may be involved in, contact an attorney.
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
riverside criminal defense attorney
,sex crimes
,statutory rape
,sex offenders
,chelsea’s law
,arnold schwarzenegger
Our office receives numerous inquiries about withdrawing a plea based on a variety of grounds. The underlying reason is that the potential client believes that the terms of the plea are unfair. Sometimes the potential client believes his or her prior counsel provided ineffective assistance because little or no investigation was performed of various defenses or there was a proper basis for an arrest.
In Colorado, common traffic violations and points assessments can have serious consequences for most drivers.
An experienced DUI Defense lawyer can help you understand what you are up against and the fines you may be required to pay. A Jacksonville DUI lawyer mostly deals with DUI matters and knows the process inside and out - including options that a public defender may not tell you.
Leading criminal defense lawyer explains why you should say no to breathalyzer and field sobriety tests.
San Antonio is one of the most visited cities in the state of Texas (The United States) and the drunk driving and DWI law is quietly difficult, so if during the facing charge of serious case you should consult to an experienced lawyer.
Sextortion is a new term coined for the act of using explicit pictures or videos to extort additional and more explicit images. We understand that being charged with an Internet sex crime can be personally devastating—even if the case is dismissed or if you are eventually acquitted of the charges. Call a Riverside Internet Sex Crime Defense Attorney today at 951.682.5110.
A new bill has been introduced in California that would require sex offenders to notify law enforcement 21 days before leaving the United States. This is in hopes to prevent child sex tourism and to foster better relationships with other countries. If you have been charged with any sex crime, from indecent exposure to soliciting a prostitute to rape, it is extremely important to speak to an experienced sex crime defense attorney. Contact us at 951.682.5110 for aggressive defense.
Do you know when you're crossing the line on the internet? Trying to enter someone's private e-mail account or breaking into password-protected areas on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter can actually be criminal acts. In some states, these actions can be considered violations of privacy rights or fall under the purview of anti-stalking laws. Under federal law, these acts may be considered computer fraud or cyberterrorism, which can even result in felony charges.
Discuss this Article
