Throw Away the Key

Monday, May 02, 2005

I've never been a fan of imposing mandatory-minimum guidelines on judges, but here in Florida the explosion of child abduction cases has gotten out of hand. Too often convicted child molesters are released into society after serving lax sentences (sometimes just probation) and wind up preying on more innocent children.

Today, Governor Bush signed the Jessica Lunsford Act into law. It requires anyone convicted of molesting a child under 12 to serve a mandatory 25 years to life in prison. Those who serve less than life will be required to wear a global tracking device for the reminder of their natural lives.

It's unfortunate we waited this long to enact something so sensible, because a handful of girls who were raped and murdered within the last few years would still be alive today.