Jessica's Law Survives Sine Die

Congratulations to Citizens for Jessica's Law, the family of Sarah Foxwell and Wicomico County law enforcement personnel whose hard work in Annapolis on the last day of the legislative session led to passage of Senate Bill 622 and House Bill 254 which, as amended, will establish a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence in second degree child sex offenses.   
 
On the last day of the 2010 Legislative Session, these bills containing the Jessica's Law enhancement legislation passed the Maryland General Assembly. Sentencing guidelines for second degree rape and sex offenses against children younger than 13 now move from a 5 to 20 years to a 15 year mandatory minimum to life without parole.
 
The sentencing provisions in these bills were also amended into Senate Bill 854 and House Bill 936 - the Administration's sex offender registry and notification legislation.
 
After a good deal of hard work throughout the session, we congratulate the advocates and legislators that supported this important legislation to protect our youth from child sexual predators.