Post by Sher on Aug 5, 2005 3:38:29 GMT -5
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed several laws Sunday designed to help authorities keep better tabs on sex offenders, including one that makes Illinois the 14th state to allow lifetime supervision of dangerous sex offenders, officials said.
The law on supervision, which takes effect immediately, requires an extended mandatory supervised release period ranging from three years to the natural life of the offender, based on the risk the sex offender poses to communities and families. Until now, sex offenders received three years of probation.
The measure, which passed the Illinois Senate 58-0 on May 18, applies to the most dangerous sex offenders — those convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault.
"There's nothing more vile than sex offenders. We have to do everything in our power to keep them away from our children and our communities," Blagojevich said in a written statement Sunday.
Illinois joins 13 other states who have some form of lifetime supervision laws. Those states are: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin, according to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.
Another law signed by Blagojevich on Sunday prohibits convicted sex offenders from living in the same residential building as others convicted of sex crimes.
The governor also signed a law that prevents sex offenders from handing out candy on Halloween, dressing up as Santa Claus during the Christmas season or wearing an Easter Bunny costume around Easter, Blagojevich's office said.
The law on supervision, which takes effect immediately, requires an extended mandatory supervised release period ranging from three years to the natural life of the offender, based on the risk the sex offender poses to communities and families. Until now, sex offenders received three years of probation.
The measure, which passed the Illinois Senate 58-0 on May 18, applies to the most dangerous sex offenders — those convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault.
"There's nothing more vile than sex offenders. We have to do everything in our power to keep them away from our children and our communities," Blagojevich said in a written statement Sunday.
Illinois joins 13 other states who have some form of lifetime supervision laws. Those states are: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin, according to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.
Another law signed by Blagojevich on Sunday prohibits convicted sex offenders from living in the same residential building as others convicted of sex crimes.
The governor also signed a law that prevents sex offenders from handing out candy on Halloween, dressing up as Santa Claus during the Christmas season or wearing an Easter Bunny costume around Easter, Blagojevich's office said.
