IL- Quinn signs sex offender crackdown laws

Another misguided Gov. and Legislature who apparently refuse to analyze the crimes that have been committed. If they were analyzed they would find the "Predators" are folks who have never before been convicted of a sex crime, they are not former registered offenders. Myths and misconstructions drive these laws, not facts and evidence! This misguided effort will not prevent online crimes.

8-11-2009 Illinois:

SPRINGFIELD—Gov. Pat Quinn signed new laws Tuesday designed to limit sex offenders’ use of technology as a way to find more victims.

One law taking effect Jan. 1 makes it a felony for registered sex offenders to use social networking sites, a move aimed at taking another step toward shutting down an avenue of contact between an offender and victim.

“Obviously, the Internet has been more and more a mechanism for predators to reach out,” said Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), a sponsor of the measure and a governor candidate. “The idea was, if the predator is supposed to be a registered sex offender, they should keep their Internet distance as well as their physical distance. The object is to protect innocent individuals on the Internet from sex offenders.”

Quinn also signed into law a new offense known as grooming, where a predator over time coaxes a minor into meeting up for sexual activities.

The law, whose sponsors included Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), is aimed at closing a loophole in the current sex registration law, he said. It takes effect immediately.

Another bill, signed on a busy day where Quinn dealt with dozens of bills, deals with child visitation rights. As of Jan. 1, the law will provide for visitation rights through electronic communication such as telephone, e-mail and instant messaging. ..Source.. by Ray Long and Monique Garcia