Individual Rights vs. Social Responsibilities
Individual rights vs. Social responsibilities
The most heinous of crimes are those committed against children. Society views these crimes as unacceptable and accepts the responsibility of ensuring the protection and safety of children from sexual predators. On the other hand even the most heinous criminals have rights. Jessica’s law ensures the social responsibility while civil rights of those convicted of crimes against children are ensured by civil rights organizations. Many of these organizations have committed themselves to fighting Jessica’s law, claiming the law violates the rights of these offenders.
Jessica’s Law was voted into effect with a strong yes. Jessica’s law calls for an increase in the penalties for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child to life in prison or a split sentence of a mandatory 25 year prison term, followed by a lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring. (Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation, 2006) After hearing so many cases on the news stations, an understanding has arisen to the recidivism related with sexual predators. For example, in Minnesota, Joseph Duncan stood in front of a judge, accused of molesting a young boy. Despite the fact that Duncan had previously served 16 years for raping another young boy at gunpoint, the judge released him on just $15,000 bail. Duncan promptly skipped bail and headed for Idaho, where he allegedly kidnapped, raped, and killed a 9-year old boy, molested his sister, and killed their family. (Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation) Jessica’s law also calls for a 10 year increase on the period a predator is allowed to petition to remove registered status. This alone can eliminate serious threats from stepping outside of society’s microscope. Previously, sexual predators who murdered his or her victims would be eligible for a life sentence; however, with Jessica’s law these predators are eligible for the death penalty.
Society’s responsibility in Jessica’s law stems from the abduction and rape
The most heinous of crimes are those committed against children. Society views these crimes as unacceptable and accepts the responsibility of ensuring the protection and safety of children from sexual predators. On the other hand even the most heinous criminals have rights. Jessica’s law ensures the social responsibility while civil rights of those convicted of crimes against children are ensured by civil rights organizations. Many of these organizations have committed themselves to fighting Jessica’s law, claiming the law violates the rights of these offenders.
Jessica’s Law was voted into effect with a strong yes. Jessica’s law calls for an increase in the penalties for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child to life in prison or a split sentence of a mandatory 25 year prison term, followed by a lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring. (Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation, 2006) After hearing so many cases on the news stations, an understanding has arisen to the recidivism related with sexual predators. For example, in Minnesota, Joseph Duncan stood in front of a judge, accused of molesting a young boy. Despite the fact that Duncan had previously served 16 years for raping another young boy at gunpoint, the judge released him on just $15,000 bail. Duncan promptly skipped bail and headed for Idaho, where he allegedly kidnapped, raped, and killed a 9-year old boy, molested his sister, and killed their family. (Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation) Jessica’s law also calls for a 10 year increase on the period a predator is allowed to petition to remove registered status. This alone can eliminate serious threats from stepping outside of society’s microscope. Previously, sexual predators who murdered his or her victims would be eligible for a life sentence; however, with Jessica’s law these predators are eligible for the death penalty.
Society’s responsibility in Jessica’s law stems from the abduction and rape
References: CBS Early Show (2005). 'Jessica 's Law ' Eyes Sex Offenders. Retrieved January 24, 2008, from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/31/earlyshow/main684190.shtml Edwards, E. (2005). The Shortsighted Scarlet Letter Approach to Sex Offenders. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2007/09/the_shortsighted_scarlet_lette.html Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation (2006). Legislation. Retrieved January 24, 2008, from http://www.jmlfoundation.org/legislation.html U.N.I.O.N (n.d.). JESSICA 'S LAW..?NO WAY!!. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from http://www.1union1.com/Jessicaslaw...Noway.htm