The Ohio House Passes Bill to Help Protect Children From Sexual Predators 

Editorial 

As parents and lawmakers, it's our job to do everything we can to keep our children as safe as possible, but we can't do that if our justice system keeps letting violent sex offenders back out on the streets.  The murder of Jessica Lunsford horrified moms through out the country and forced us to realize that we must find ways to confine the sexual predators that are most likely to recommit these horrific crimes.  At 9 years old, Jessica was kidnapped, raped and murdered.  She was then buried alive in a garbage bag and died as she knelt clutching her stuffed animal.  According to news reports, the crime was committed by a registered sex offender.  It's hard to imagine that any human being could be capable of such a heinous act, but sadly such people do exist in our world.  This man should never have been allowed out of jail.  Because he was, Jessica died a horrific death that no human being should ever have to suffer.

Thankfully, the Ohio House of Representatives, in yet another display of leadership and bi-partisanship yesterday took our state one step closer to preventing this from  happening to other children by unanimously passing HB 227.  HB 227 is designed to help ensure that certain sexually violent predators are not released until they have been evaluated by a psychiatrist in order to help ensure that they no longer posed a risk to innocent children.  Should the previously convicted violent sexual predator be evaluated and a decision made that the criminal in question still poses a threat to children; they will be remanded to civil confinement.  We are also very pleased that this bill will also provide medical treatment and an on-going review of the case.  While it's good to give people a second chance, when it comes to criminals who rape and violate our children, keeping our children safe must come first.  HB 227 will help do just that.  As moms, we are very grateful to the Ohio House of Representatives for their efforts on this issue and we were proud to join in the effort to support this bill.

Special thanks goes to State Representative Faber, the lead sponsor on this bill, as well as to the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee, Chairman Latta, the Ranking Minority Committee Member State Representative Tim DeGeeter, State Representative Willamowski,  State Representative Tom Patton and State Representative Tom Raga along with all the members of our State House.  In addition, we would like to offer special thanks to Speaker Jon Husted for his support on this critical issue.  We know that our State House faces many important issues each and every day and as moms we are very grateful to the Speaker for his support on this issue, as well as for his willingness to take the time to meet with us and listen to our concerns.  The bill will now go to the Ohio Senate, where we hope it will be passed as soon as possible.

Below are some comments from those supported HB 227:

State Representative Keith Faber, Lead Sponsor for HB 227: 

"Frankly, we as elected officials owe it to the public to do all that we can to address this problem.  With a 50-50 chance these offenders will re-offend, do we really want to send them back into society to prey on our friends, family and neighbors?  These are the worst of the worst offenders in our society.  We know that sexually violent predators have a tendency to commit additional crimes after they have been released, and this legislation allows for the continued oversight of these individuals to ensure the safety of our communities. "

State Representative & Ranking Minority Member of the Criminal Justice Committee & Co-Sponsor of HB 227: 

This legislation applies only to the worst offenders and similar legislation has been passed in other states. As important as it is to do everything to rehabilitate those who have committed these crimes, our first responsibility is to keep our children safe.  This bill will help to do both by helping to ensure that we do not prematurely release those who still pose a risk and by providing medical treatment to those who are remanded to civil confinement. 

Representative Tom Raga, Co-Sponsor of HB 227:

As a father myself, it horrifies me that any child should be attacked and suffer in the tragic way that Jessica did.  As parents and public servants, we must do everything we can to keep our children safe.  HB 227 is part of the on-going effort in the Ohio House to help provide better protection for our children from these types of criminals and will help give prosecutors and law enforcement the tools they need to give our children the protection they deserve.

State Representative John Willamowski, Co-Sponsor

of HB 227:

During testimony on the floor, State Representative Willamowski argued for adoption of HB 227.  "I strongly support Representative Faber's efforts to deal with sexually violent offenders who suffer from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes that person likely to engage in repeat acts of violence.  The Government has certain basic responsibilities to its citizens and protection of society has to be number one."