Like many Iowans, I was deeply saddened when I heard that Jetseta Gage, a little girl from the Cedar Rapids area, was abducted, raped and murdered by a repeat sex offender. Crimes like these against children are some of the worst offenses possible and, unfortunately, happen far too often.
That’s why I have recently introduced legislation that would enhance criminal penalties for child sex predators prosecuted in federal courts.
My bill, the 'Jetseta Gage Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2005,'gives the federal judiciary the tools it needs to help ensure that our children grow up in safe communities.
The high number of sex offenders who are repeat offenders makes this legislation particularly necessary. A Justice Department study showed that 5.3 percent of sex offenders are repeat offenders, which makes them four times more likely to be rearrested for sex crimes than non-sex offenders released from state prisons.
'Jetseta’s Bill' has three main components. First, it would guarantee punishment of criminals who commit violent crimes against children by establishing stiff mandatory minimum sentences. Making sure someone who kills a child is in prison for life or someone who kidnaps, sexually assaults or maims a child is put away for at least 30 years just makes sense. The other mandatory minimums in the bill are 15 years for violence against a child under 12, ten years if a dangerous weapon is used, and two years in any other case.
The bill also increases penalties for nine federal crimes against children. The nine crimes are: aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, sexual abuse resulting in death, sexual exploitation, activities relating to material involving sexual exploitation, activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography, using misleading domain names to direct children to harmful materials, production of sexually explicit depictions of children, and conduct relating to child prostitution.
Since the legislation would make the death penalty available for anyone that murders a child under 15, my bill makes sure that the federal appellate review system is fair and expeditious. It is critical that convicted sex offenders who murder children get a full and fair review of their case, but it is also important that they not be allowed to stall the capital process with multiple appeals of their conviction.
Strong penalties keep those who have already harmed children off the street, and send a message to all that such abuse will not be tolerated. While it’s too late to help Jetseta, the time is right to strengthen our justice system to make sure our children and grandchildren grow up in communities free from child predators.