Legislation against sex offenders is gaining momentum in the Maryland General Assembly, as lawmakers consider lengthening sex offenders’ prison terms, monitoring them with GPS devices and sharing their registry information with other states.
Following the murder of 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell, who was abducted by a registered sex offender on the Eastern Shore and found dead on Christmas Day, Maryland lawmakers have been trying to figure out how to tighten up their laws.
Sen. James DeGrange, D-Anne Arundel County, says the loophole may be in the state’s Sex Offender Registry database.
Under a bill he is sponsoring, sex offenders would have to provide more information — such as palm prints and professional license information — to the registry. And offenders would have to update their status with the registry every three months — instead of every six — to bring Maryland in line with federal standards.
“Without making these changes, Maryland could lose $2 million in federal funding, so it’s something that we have to do,” DeGrange said. “It’s something that’s needed to know who these people are and to prevent a tragedy that was recently experienced on the Eastern Shore.”
DeGrange’s bill was included in a list of 10 legislative priorities Democratic lawmakers announced for the 2010 session. His measure also would increase information sharing between Maryland and neighboring states, so offenders moving among states would be more easily identifiable.
Expanding the state’s Sex Offender Registry is one of several priorities Gov. Martin O’Malley outlined to the General Assembly.
“There should be absolutely no mercy shown to anyone who harms a child in our state, and our legislation serves to impose the strictest standards of supervision to ensure that Maryland’s children are protected,” O’Malley said, describing his agenda for toughening up on sex offenders.
O’Malley also said he supports lifetime supervision — possibly using GPS devices — for repeat offenders, criminal background checks for all employees at child care facilities, and reinstitution of the state’s failed Sexual Offender Advisory Board, which hasn’t convened in the four years since its creation. The board is expected to meet for the first time this week.
Other proposals before the General Assembly would increase minimum sentences for second-degree rape and sex offense against a child from five to 20 years, prohibit offenders from earning “good time” credits in prison, and require repeat offenders to be placed in state mental institutions following a prison term.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
