House
Republican Press Release
June 4,
2007
Press
Office: 860-240-8700
Legislation Provides Tougher Penalties, Mandatory
Sentences for Sex Offenders who Prey on Children
Sex
offenders who prey on children will face tougher sanctions and mandatory
sentences under Connecticut’s version of Jessica’s Law, which received final
legislative approval Saturday by the state House of Representatives,
state Representative Selim Noujaim said after the vote.
“Jessica’s Law will give our
children added protection from the most dangerous sexual criminals – repeat
offenders and those who abduct or use violence against their victims,” said
Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury. “It establishes the crime of aggravated
sexual assault of a minor, which provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of
25 years for first offenders and 50 years for offenders with prior
convictions.”
“It will keep violent sexual
offenders behind bars for lengthy prison terms where they will be unable to
prey on children, our most vulnerable citizens,” “This legislation will ensure
that violent sexual offenders are not released from prison after only a few
years to prey on our children once again. They are the ones who statistically
are most prone to recidivism. This new law will keep them behind bars for
lengthy prison terms where they will be unable to repeat their crimes,”
Representative Noujaim said.
The measure establishes the
crime of aggravated sexual assault, which targets individuals who commit
certain crimes against a child under age 13 and:
- kidnap, illegally restrain,
stalk, disfigure, cause serious injury to, or use violence against the
victim;
- commit the same offense
against more than one victim under age 13;
- do not know the victim; or
- have been previously convicted
of a violent sexual assault.
Under the legislation, aggravated
sexual assault of a minor is a class A felony, punishable by 25 to 50 years in
prison, a fine of up to $ 20,000, or both. For first offenders, the mandatory
minimum prison term is 25 years. For subsequent offenders, it is 50 years.
