For Immediate Release

11/29/06

CONTACT:
PA Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725

Governor Signs Orie Bills to Protect Children, Rape Victims from Abuse

HARRISBURG -- The Governor today signed into law two bills sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) that would double the penalty for rape of children under 16 and establish standardized rape kits for all hospitals and health care facilities in Pennsylvania.

Orie, who chairs the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, said both measures will help law enforcement agencies identify and prosecute more sex offenders and protect women and children from abuse.

She said Senate Bill 944, also known as Jessica's Law, is named for Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year old Florida girl who was kidnapped and murdered by a convicted sex offender.

"We are proud that Pennsylvania is leading a national effort to crack down on child sexual predators," Orie said.  "This bill not only increases penalties for those who prey on children, it also ensures that if and when they are released their whereabouts are known for the rest of their lives.  Monitoring sex predators is crucial to protecting potential victims before a crime occurs."

Senate Bill 944 would impose a minimum of 10 years in prison for anyone over 18 years who is convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 16, permit parole and probation officials to use GPS monitoring on offenders, impose a 25-year term of imprisonment for a second offense, and mandate a life sentence for anyone convicted of a third offense.

The bill also provides for the forfeiture of property used by sex offenders in the commission of their crimes, including computers and cars.  Money collected from the forfeitures would be used to fund prosecutions and help support treatment for victims.

"As a former prosecutor, I know that sexual predators have a very high rate of recidivism, so they are especially dangerous when they are released from prison and returned to society," Orie said.  "Sex offenders are about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime, after their discharge from prison."

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, there are over 7,100 registered sex offenders in the state.  Last year, sexual assault centers around the Commonwealth served approximately 38,000 people, nearly a third of whom were children.  Children under 12 account for 34 percent of all sexual assaults.

The Governor also signed into law Senate Bill 439, which would establish a statewide evidence collection program to facilitate the prosecution of cases of rape and sexual assault.

Orie said several states, including Connecticut, California, Arkansas and Illinois, have passed standardized rape kit laws to assure all necessary samples and evidence are collected following a sexual assault.

"These evidence-gathering kits are vital for the prosecution of rapists, and the legislation would ensure the necessary information is available in these kits," Orie said.  "The measure would also provide a means to update and revise sexual assault kits to cope with emerging problems, such as new date rape drugs."

Orie said the state Department of Health would administrate the program, and consult with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania State Police to develop minimum standards for all rape kits used in hospitals and health care facilities.

The department would also work with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the Pennsylvania State Police, the International Association of Forensic Nurses and local Sexual Assault Response Teams to establish a program to train health care personnel in the correct use of rape kits.

"In developing this legislation, we worked closely with and held roundtable discussions with interested groups, such as law enforcement agencies, sexual assault services, and health care providers," Orie said.  "Our goal is to ensure that victims receive the assistance they need, that proper testing is done to protect their safety and sex offenders are prosecuted."

On Nov. 29 the Governor signed into law two bills sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) that would double the penalty for rape of children under 16 and establish standardized rape kits for all hospitals and health care facilities in Pennsylvania.

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