Jessica's Law, California Proposition 83 (2006)
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California Proposition 83, also known as Jessica's Law, was on the November 7, 2006 ballot in California, where it was approved. The Proposition was designed to protect citizens against sex offenders. The measure passed with 70% of the vote. The major donor was the "Campaign for Child Safety Jessica's Law, yes on 83" committee that gave $2,131,257 [1]
6,800 registered sex offenders are on parole in California as of late 2009.[2]
Sex offenders file lawsuit
Under the terms of Proposition 83, formerly imprisoned sex offenders must live at least 2,000 feet from parks and schools.
Four paroled sex offenders filed a lawsuit saying that the restrictions on sex offenders enacted by Proposition 83 should not apply to those who committed their sex offenses prior to the time that Proposition 83 was enacted.
Ernest Galvan, the lawyer for the four paroled sex offenders, said that Proposition 83 does not actually prevent the harm it was intended to prevent because although under the law, offenders can't live within 2,000 feet of parks and schools, the law does not prevent them from entering parks and schools.[2]
Objective of the initiative
The objective was to provide citizens with more protection against violent sex offenders the measure proposed to:
- Increase penalties for violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters.
- Prohibit registered sex offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of any school or park.
- Require lifetime Global Positioning System monitoring of felony registered sex offenders.
- Expand definition of a sexually violent predator.
- Change current two-year involuntary civil commitment for a sexually violent predator to an indeterminate commitment, subject to annual review by the Director of Mental Health and subsequent ability of sexually violent predator to petition court for sexually violent predator’s conditional release or unconditional discharge. [3]
Text of the proposition
The text of the proposed law can be found here in PDF form.
Arguments for the initiative
- The proposition would allow for police to use GPS to track violent sex offenders
- Would keep sex offenders away from schools and playgrounds and protect children
- Keep sex offenders in jail longer
Main Proponent: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arguments against the initiative
- Proposition is too broad and would punish clearly non-violent offenders
- Proposition is too costly
- Similar laws have failed in other states
Main opponent: Carleen R Arlidge President California Attorneys for Criminal Justice [4]
Campaign finance
For Prop 83
Donors for the campaign for the measure:[5]
- CAMPAIGN FOR CHILD SAFTETY 2006 JESSICAS LAW YES ON 83: $2,131,257
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS FOR JESSICAS LAW: $64,895
- Total: $2,196,152
Against Prop 83
Donors for the campaign against the measure:
- CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ELECTIONS: $30,000
- Total: $30,000
- Overall Total: $2,226,152
External links
- Legislative Analysis of the proposition
- Analysis by league of Women voters
- Website in support of the measure
- blog post opposing the measure
References
- ↑ Follow the Money
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 San Francisco Chronicle, "State justices debate limits on sex offenders", November 4, 2009
- ↑ Text of the initiative
- ↑ Official rebuttal arguments
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Donors"
