3-27-2011 Missouri:
Jefferson City, Mo. — The Missouri House of Representatives will consider a local legislator’s plan to make convicted sex offenders undergo treatment while they serve time in prison. State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, sailed a plan through the Missouri Senate that will stop sex offenders who haven’t been in treatment programs from being paroled early.
“If they haven’t completed this program, the probation and parole board can suggest that they stay and complete it but they don’t have enough teeth to make them stay and complete it,” Kehoe explained.
“By implementing this fix it will require those people to immediately go out and take and complete this if they are going to be eligible for early parole.”
SB 250 would stop offenders incarcerated on sex crimes from opting out of in-prison treatment programs. If an offender has not successfully completed a program, SB 250 would block them from parole consideration.
“The modeling would suggest that if they go through this program it may make a difference such that they’re not return offenders for this possible crime as well, so I think there is some different that it makes as the offender moves forward,” Kehoe said.
SB 250 passed its third and final reading in the Senate by a 32-0 vote. It has since gone to the Missouri House and undergone two readings.
The bill became bipartisan when Kehoe allowed an amendement from Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence. Callahan’s amendment widens the legal language that prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools and childcare facilities.
Current law only protects licensed daycare centers. Callahan wants to widen the law to include non-profit groups, churches, or businesses with childcare facilities on site.
“For obviously logical reasons, you’ve got to empower neighborhoods to protect children and be aware,” Callahan said.
The Missouri legislature has been out of session for its spring break this week. The break signifies the halfway point in the 2011 legislative session. ..Source.. lakenewsonline.com
March 27, 2011
State senator’s plan requires sex offenders to undergo treatment.
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