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Jessica's Law in Massachusetts

By Kent Scheidegger et al.

The Massachusetts legislature is presently considering a version of "Jessica's Law," reports Dave Wedge for the Boston Herald. (Hat tip, James Taranto.) Incredibly, the House removed a provision for mandatory prison time for rape of a child before passing the bill. However controversial mandatory minimums may be in other contexts, it staggers the imagination to think that anyone, much less a majority of a house of a state legislature, thinks that probation can be appropriate for this crime. But if you think that's incredible, read what Rep. James Fagan said in opposition to the bill: Fagan, a defense attorney, infuriated victims? rights advocates during a recent House debate when he said he would ?rip apart? 6-year-old victims on the witness stand and ?make sure the rest of their life is ruined...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime and Consequences on June 24, 2008 (boomark / email).