Maine "Jessica's Law" Initiative (2009)
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The Maine "Jessica's Law" Initiative is approved for circulation for the November 2009 ballot in Maine.
The initiative, if successful, would change the sentence for gross sexual assault against a victim who is under 12 years of age to a period of imprisonment of 25 years, none of which may be suspended. If the defendant had previously been convicted and sentenced for committing gross sexual assault, rape or gross sexual misconduct against a person who is under 12 years of age, the court must impose a sentence of life imprisonment, none of which may be suspended. The bill, LD 46, did not pass in the 2007 session.
Proponents
Stavros Mendros, P.O. Box 641, Lewiston, ME 04243-0641 Telephone: (H) 332-4768
News
- First Application Of "Jessika's Law" in Maine: A Bangor Daily News article, August 1, 2008 [1] reports that a sex offender, convicted of molesting a four year old girl, was sentenced to 22 years by Waldo County Superior Court Justice Jeffrey Hjelm. The current law in Maine instructs Judges to begin sentencing deliberations at 20 years, but gives them latitude to consider other factors in setting sentencing. Assistant District Attorney Eric Walker said that this was the first time the law had been applied in a Maine case that was not part of a plea agreement. As the law now stands, persons convicted under the statute still have the right to parole.
- Testimony before the Maine legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee: Representative Kathy Chase's testimony before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in support of bill LD46 can be found on her website in it's entirety.[2] She represents House District #147. She quotes Police Chief John Morris of Waterville from the March 29th edition of the Waterville Morning Sentinel as saying “Today as we sit, there are 72 registered sex offenders in this city. We are investigating another 10 right now, who are new registrants. Every one of the 82 are people who have sexually violated young children. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that some registered child sex offenders will re-offend.” She makes a compelling argument as a legislator and as a grandmother with 6 grandchildren living in Maine, all under the age of twelve.
