WALSH APPLAUDS HOUSE ACTION TO STEM VIOLENT CRIME
Legislation Poised to Further Protect Children from Sexual Predators, Deter Crimes Against Law Enforcement, and Aggressively Prosecute Gangs

(Washington D.C.)- Congressman Jim Walsh today applauded passage of H.R. 4472, the Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2005, saying the legislation will help prevent the sexual abuse and exploitation of America's children as well as further deter crimes against law enforcement personnel and aggressively prosecute gang activity.

“The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankind’s most basic duty to protect the innocent,” said Walsh. “The Children’s Safety Act will help protect children from the perpetrators of these vile crimes by strengthening notification requirements for sex offenders and increasing criminal penalties."

Among other things, the Children’s Safety Act will:

•  Improve the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register - and keep current - where they reside, work, and attend school;
•  Create the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website to search for sex offender information in each community;
•  Require states to notify each other when sex offenders move from one state to another;
•  Create a new criminal penalty of up to a maximum of 20 years for sex offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements; and
•  Protect foster children from sexual abuse and exploitation and increase criminal penalties for child sexual predators.

Of particular interest to Upstate New York where two law enforcement officers were gunned down in separate incidents last week, the bill also stiffens criminal penalties where the violent crime victim is a United States judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer and increases penalties for crimes against victims, witnesses, jurors, and informants.

The legislation also formally authorizes the prosecution of criminal gang enterprises by employing existing RICO statute used to prosecute federal racketeering, authorizes funds for joint federal, state, and local gang investigation and prosecution, and creates mandatory minimum sentences for gang crimes and violent crimes.

The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration

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