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Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2006

ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES

Message from the Executive Director

I am pleased to join Stop Child Predators (SCP) as the group's executive director. Since I joined SCP in April, we have been actively meeting legislators from all over the country - from Pennsylvania to California and North Carolina to Montana, among many others. Through these meetings, we have been able to move forward our model legislation to ensure mandatory sentencing for sex offenders and GPS tracking of those released back into the community.

Sadly, our research shows that nearly half of all states fail to protect children from sexual predators, but instead allow criminals back on the streets to commit crimes over and over again. A gross number of young girls and boys have been raped, abused, and even murdered by repeat sex offenders released after serving short prison sentences despite their potential for recidivism.

We are making great strides, however, Twenty-four states have already passed Jessica's Law, and we are fighting to secure the passage of this important legislation in the other 26 states.

If you have any insights you would like to share, you can reach me at srumenap@stopchildpredators.org.

Stop Child Predators Welcomes Meryl Chertoff and Secretary Rod Paige to Its Advisory Board

Meryl Chertoff brings to SCP extensive experience as a legislative relations professional, consummate attorney, and tireless community volunteer. In her role as a legislative relations consultant, Ms. Chertoff represented corporations, professional associations, and charitable organizations before the New Jersey State Legislature and regulatory agencies. Her practice focused on issues related to health, education, youth, and financial services.

An expert on homeland security preparedness, Ms. Chertoff has served as a spokesperson on this subject for private groups and media interviews. She has also developed written materials on preparedness for state audiences.

Additionally, Ms. Chertoff served as Director of New Jersey's Washington, D.C. office under two governors, and worked in the Office of Legislative Affairs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), participating in the agency's transition into the Department of Homeland Security from 2002 to 2003.

She is a member of the Metropolitan Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, a volunteer for the Red Cross of the National Capital Region, and a board member of the New Jersey Excellence in Public Service Series. In 2000, she earned the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Service in Civil Rights Award for the New Jersey Region. Ms. Chertoff is a former trustee of the United Way of Somerset County, New Jersey, and of the United Fund of Westfield.

Ms. Chertoff graduated magna cum laude from Harvard-Radcliffe College, received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, and practiced law for seven years in New York City and New Jersey. She and her husband have two children.

Secretary Rod Paige was confirmed as the 7th Secretary of Education in January 2001 and served until January 2005. During that time, Secretary Paige created the Blueprint for Management Excellence to reform the department, which has since received the highest praise from the federal Office of Management and Budget.

Secretary Paige started his career in education as a teacher and a coach before accepting a position as Dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University (TSU). As dean, Secretary Paige created the Center for Excellence in Urban Education, which researches instruction and management in urban school systems.

Secretary Paige served on the Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) from 1989 to 1994. As an officer and trustee of the Board of Education, he co-wrote A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions, which led to the reformulation and reorganization of HISD. Secretary Paige later became superintendent of HISD, and in 2001, the American Association of School Administrators named him National Superintendent of the Year.

Secretary Paige has served on review committees for the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education's Task Force on High School Education. He also chaired the U.S. Department of Labor's Youth Employment Issues Subcommittee of the National Commission for Employment Policy. He has also held positions on the Houston Job Training Partnership Council, the Community Advisory Board of Texas Commerce Bank, the American Leadership Forum, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Board of Directors of the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

Secretary Paige received the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education in 2000 and the National Association of Black School Educators' Superintendent of the Year award. He holds a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University in Mississippi and a master's degree and a doctorate from Indiana University.

FEDERAL ACTIVITIES

SCP Congratulates Lawmakers for Passing the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006

On July 27th, President Bush signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, legislation that calls for more stringent measures to combat the sexual predation of children. The law is named for Adam Walsh, the six-year old boy whose abduction from a Florida department store and subsequent murder, served to increase awareness of the dangers of child predators 25 years ago.

This law strengthens existing federal laws aimed at protecting children from sexual and other violent crimes, and provides protections from child pornography, child prostitution, sex trafficking of children, and Internet predators.

This legislation also creates a national sex offender registry designed to close gaps in existing state systems and community notification requirements. And it allows for tough mandatory minimum penalties imposed for the most serious crimes against children.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that there are more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. Of those, approximately 100,000 are missing or have not provided up-to-date information on their registrations.

According to the most recent available data from the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics, average sentence imposed on child sexual predators released in 1994 was seven years, while the average predator was released after serving only three. This occurs even though the same study shows sexual predators are four times more likely than other criminals to be arrested again for a sex crime.

By enacting the Adam Walsh Act, lawmakers have enabled law enforcement officials to catch, prosecute, and ultimately prevent sex offenders from victimizing anyone again.

STATE ACTIVITIES

National Organization Endorses SCP's Model Legislation

The Sexual Offenses Against Children Act - model legislation set forth by Stop Child Predators - gained unanimous approval by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in May. ALEC is a national organization of state legislators with over 2,400 members from all 50 states.

The Sexual Offenses Against Children Act is closely modeled after Florida's Jessica Lunsford Act, also known as "Jessica's Law." Most significantly, the bill requires mandatory minimum prison terms - ranging from 25 years to life imprisonment - for sexual offenses against children. In addition, the bill contains provisions for biannual registration, randomized verification, electronic monitoring as a condition of supervised release, and restitution and victims' rights.

After first proposing the legislation in August of 2005, Stop Child Predators collaborated with ALEC members to create a bill that addresses current weaknesses in penalties and registration requirements for sex offenders.

SCP Applauds Maryland Lawmakers for Passing Tougher Sex Offender Legislation

On June 22nd, Governor Robert Ehrlich signed into law a comprehensive bill to clamp down on sexual offenders. The law calls for mandatory minimum 25-year prison sentences, with the option of parole, for the most serious crimes committed against children. Sex offenders must register with local enforcement agencies every three months and have updated photos taken annually.

The CART program is backed by $1.5 million in federal funds and is run out of the Department's Office of Justice Programs. The Justice Department plans to create 10 nationwide response teams. Training begins in January 2006, with the first team based in San Diego. The program is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Congress Moves to Protect Children's Safety

On June 22nd, Governor Robert Ehrlich signed into law a comprehensive bill to clamp down on sexual offenders. The law calls for mandatory minimum 25-year prison sentences, with the option of parole, for the most serious crimes committed against children. Sex offenders must register with local enforcement agencies every three months and have updated photos taken annually.

In passing the Maryland legislation, SCP worked closely with House and Senate sponsors, including Delegate Anthony O'Donnell (District 29C) and Senator Nancy Jacobs. Local activist Jerry Norton and his team of volunteers also contributed immensely to enacting Maryland's tougher penalties. While SCP would like to have the option of parole removed from the law, everyone agrees the final outcome is a good first step. For more information on Maryland's sexual predator legislation visit: http://somd.com/news/headlines/articles/3925.shtml

North Carolina Lawmakers Adopt Strong Sex Offender Bill

On August 17th, North Carolina became the 24th state to pass a version of Jessica's Law. The law imposes anywhere from 12 years to life sentences for sexual predators, with a 25 year minimum required for repeat offenders. It also includes GPS monitoring for the worst offenders and requires them to update their registry information semi-annually. Lastly, the law prohibits offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school or day care center or working in careers where they would have contact with minors.

SCP applauds the efforts of Senator Fred Smith and Representative Cary Allred who provided the legislative push necessary to enact Jessica's Law. Additionally, Martha Jenkins, President of the Federation of Republican Women, was crucial to the North Carolina victory. For more information on North Carolina's sexual predator legislation visit: www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5274

OTHER STATE ACTIVITIES

In all, 24 states have adopted provisions of Jessica's Law. Most recently, Delaware, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia have been added to the growing list.

As legislatures re-convene next year, SCP looks forward to strengthening sex offender laws in California, Pennsylvania, and Montana, among other states. In California, for instance, Proposition 83, which increases penalties and includes electronic tracking for convicted sex offenders, will appear on the November ballot. Recent opinion polls show that voters back the measure by a nearly 7 to 1 margin, with massive bipartisan support.

For more information concerning the initiatives in your state, or if you would like SCP's help in drafting, testifying for, or supporting legislation in your state, please visit our website, http://www.stopchildpredators.org, and/or contact us at 202-234-0090.

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