Florida law enforcement officials and state legislators are considering the enactment of tougher consequences for sexual predators and are calling for a review of the current law.
In committee meetings this week, they discussed ways to give law enforcement officials more legal tools to deal with offenders and prevent re-offenses.
The situation was brought to light after the abduction and murder of 8-year-old Cherrish Perrywinkle by Donald James Smith, a registered sex offender, in Jacksonville this summer garnered national publicity.
This was one of the many other cases, including the abduction, sexual assault and murder of Jessica Lunsford in Citrus County in 2005 and abduction, rape and murder of 7-year-old Somer Thompson in Clay County in 2009, that have forced Florida’s law enforcement officials and legislators to question the effectiveness of the current laws.
Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala said although the current system works for some cases, sometimes it isn’t enough.
“It’s a situation where the system works pretty well 95 percent of the time, but in those five percent, they are horrendous cases and it’s simply cases we can’t lose,” he said. “We can’t be in a position to endanger the public.”
Florida has the fourth highest number of registered sex offenders in the nation, and after convicted offenders serve their time, depending on the severity of their case, they can be fully released back into society. ..continued.. by Trevor Sikkema
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