Washington House Democrats

O’Brien, Ericks vote for tough sex offender laws

February 1, 2006

OLYMPIA –In a series of unanimous votes, the House of Representatives passed a package of tough bills to catch more sex offenders, convict more sex offenders and protect more victims.

“Police and prosecutors tell us we’ve made our bills as tough as you can get without leading to fewer convictions,” said the chair of the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, Rep. Al O’Brien (D-Mountlake Terrace). “These bills are specifically designed for victims to speak out, which is the first thing we need to get sex offenders locked-up.”

County prosecutors, sheriffs and police chiefs say the new laws will give them better tools to catch and convict child molesters and rapists.

“The number one goal of police and prosecutors is to get a conviction, to get child molesters and rapists off the street,” said Rep. Mark Ericks (D-Bothell), who has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, “and that’s exactly what these bills will do.”

Carolee Wynhoff, Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County said that these pieces of legislation seek to protect the most vulnerable and hold offenders accountable. “We will never understand why predators do what they do, but through this legislation victims will gain the tools and support that they need to regain healthy and productive lives," Wynhoff added.

The package of legislation includes:

• 25 years to life for child rape or molestation in the first degree committed by strangers, or by teachers, coaches and other trusted authority figures (House Bill 3277)
• 25 years to life for rape in the first or second degree, first degree kidnapping with sexual motivation when the victim is under fifteen, developmentally disabled, mentally ill or an elderly adult (House Bill 3277)
• Protection orders for victims of sexual assault (House Bill 2576)
• Making it a felony to distribute phony sex offender notifications (House Bill 3238)

All the measures were passed from the House with unanimous bi-partisan support and now go to the Senate.

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Links:
House Bill 3277
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3277&year=2006

House Bill 2576
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2576&year=2006

House Bill 3252
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3252&year=2006

House Bill 3238
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3238&year=2006

Radio and TV News Directors: To obtain broadcast-quality audio on this issue, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7208.

For interviews:

Rep. Al O’Brien, 1st Legislative District
360-786-7928
o’brien.al@leg.wa.gov
Print-quality photo:
www1.leg.wa.gov/House/obrien_photo_download.htm

Rep. Mark Ericks, 1st Legislative District
360-786-7900
ericks.mark@leg.wa.gov
Print-quality photo:
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/House/ericks_photo_download.htm

Guy Bergstrom (360) 786-7811
Lilia P. Nieto (360) 786-7375