"nine law enforcement officers have been struck and killed by drunken drivers in Texas since 2002"
Governor Rick Perry signed a bill on Tuesday that increases the punishment for drunk drivers who kill first responders. This includes policemen, firemen, EMS personnel, and other emergency personnel. The bill makes it possible for someone to serve a life sentence for this crime. The law increases the sentence from twenty years to ninety-nine years. The law takes effect starting September 1st.
Representative Paula Pierson, an Arlington Democrat, authored the new law. She wanted to make sure that those putting their lives at risk to protect citizens know that their lives are valued.
The Medlin-Freeto Law is named after two officers who were killed while helping citizens by drunk drivers. Medlin was killed outside of his patrol car by a drunk driver, and Freeto was struck and killed while helping a woman change a flat tire.
I think this law is very reasonable and hopefully will make people think a little harder before they get behind the wheel intoxicated. Before, a person who served there sentence could get out in twenty years and then have the opportunity to do the same thing. Now, there is no possibility for this to happen. It was time that Texas cracked down harder on drunk drivers who kill innocent bystanders. Hopefully, the statistic will go down and instead of nine deaths in five years there will be no first responder deaths due to drunk drivers.
To read more about this: Law offers some comfort for officers' kin
Friday, July 27, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
New Future for Sex Offenders
A new system is established in Texas on the classifications of registered sex offenders.
The Austin American Statesman recently reported on the change to the registered sex offender classification system. Though it won't make a difference to the already registered ones that have previously released from prison, but the ones who in the future will be released. The new system will determine the level of risk the sex offender brings to society. This rating is based on several tests with a point scaled based on "factors such as age, marital status, previous offenses and the sex of the victim".
The new system only will be applied to the sex offenders who are being released now. The over 45,000 already registered sex offenders will not be reexamined. It doesn't seem fair to place a stricter set of rules now and let those in the past slide. The new testing system is supposed to more properly rank some one as "low risk" or "high risk", but those already classified as a high risk to society now could be a low risk by the new testing strategy.
State Representative, Jerry Madden, a Republican from Richardson is pleased with the new test. He says he "is getting the people [he] wants to get with it: the people being released now".
There is no research yet to show if the testing is even vaild.
The main purpose of these tests is to determine which sex offenders may need supervision and those who are likely to commit another sexual offense or crime. Where is the supervision for those who have already passed through the system? Sure there name is on a list already and easily located through the help of the internet, but are they currently being supervised. Are those coming out as "high risk" now going to be more closely watched than the "high risk" sex offenders of the already 45,000 living in the state.
To view the full article: Texas to change sex offender classification
The Austin American Statesman recently reported on the change to the registered sex offender classification system. Though it won't make a difference to the already registered ones that have previously released from prison, but the ones who in the future will be released. The new system will determine the level of risk the sex offender brings to society. This rating is based on several tests with a point scaled based on "factors such as age, marital status, previous offenses and the sex of the victim".
The new system only will be applied to the sex offenders who are being released now. The over 45,000 already registered sex offenders will not be reexamined. It doesn't seem fair to place a stricter set of rules now and let those in the past slide. The new testing system is supposed to more properly rank some one as "low risk" or "high risk", but those already classified as a high risk to society now could be a low risk by the new testing strategy.
State Representative, Jerry Madden, a Republican from Richardson is pleased with the new test. He says he "is getting the people [he] wants to get with it: the people being released now".
There is no research yet to show if the testing is even vaild.
The main purpose of these tests is to determine which sex offenders may need supervision and those who are likely to commit another sexual offense or crime. Where is the supervision for those who have already passed through the system? Sure there name is on a list already and easily located through the help of the internet, but are they currently being supervised. Are those coming out as "high risk" now going to be more closely watched than the "high risk" sex offenders of the already 45,000 living in the state.
To view the full article: Texas to change sex offender classification
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
