Bill would remove statute of limitations on sex offenses involving children

2-27-2013 Iowa:

DES MOINES — Sex offenders could be marked for their crimes indefinitely under legislation introduced Monday by an Iowa state senator.

Sen. Jeff Danielson’s bill would remove the statute of limitations on sex offenses involving children, a provision that drew praise from some during a Statehouse hearing.

“Sometimes it takes decades before the trauma can be spoken of,” said Kim Hiscox, an organizer and spokeswoman for the National Child Safety Council. “A statute of limitations doesn’t make sense.”

The bill, which Danielson said “was a starting point,” would make several other changes to existing law. They include:

• Modifying the state’s sex offender registry tier structure so offenders are ranked on the list based on an assessment of their propensity to re-offend. Currently, offenders are placed on the list based on their conviction.

• Putting aside $2 million for a state revolving fund under control of the Department of Public Safety to pay for training and best practice protocols for law enforcement agencies involved in tracking missing children, including new alert systems and establishment of a statewide human trafficking task force.

The legislation is in response to the abduction and killings of cousins Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, who were reported missing in July and whose bodies were discovered by hunters in December.

“It does not go far enough, but it’s the step in the right direction,” said Sen. Kent Sorenson, R-Milo.

Sorenson has pushed for a re-introduction of the death penalty in the state since the girls’ bodies were discovered.

“I think capital justice is something we can have a discussion on,” Sorenson said, adding he could support Danielson’s bill. “I’m hoping we can make it a work in progress.” ...continued... by MIKE WISER