On September 9, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Chelsea's Law (CA 18-44), enacting legislation to protect California's children from predators and help locate missing children.
"My single greatest priority as governor is to protect the safety and well-being of all Californians," said Governor Schwarzenegger. When a terrible tragedy like what happened to Chelsea King and Amber Dubois occurs, we have to review the laws in place and see where improvements or changes can be made to make our state safer and make it tougher on the predators who want to create victims out of innocent Californians. I am proud to sign these bills today that will do just that."
This important legislation not only includes a One Strike life in prison for violent sex crimes against children but goes a long way towards fundamentally reforming California's parole system. It increases sentences for forcible sex crimes, increases parole for those who target children under the age of 14; INCLUDING LIFETIME PAROLE; restricts sex offenders from entering parks; requires sex offenders' risk assessment be made public through the Megan's Law Website; revises California's mentally disordered offender laws to provide for continued detention of offenders where evaluation and assessment deem necessary and require the state to implement a FIRST-IN-THE-NATION containment model and dynamic risk assessment structure. It will also require law enforcement agencies to adopt a checklist for missing children and utilize a missing person form by 1/1/2012.
This ringing endorsement and signature by the Governor comes after independent legislative analysts said it would cost too much.
The Interstate Commission For Adult Offender Supervision tells me that I have to contact the Department of Corrections (interstatecompact.org) in each state to determine the lifetime parole parameters in each state.
My research (Google) shows the following states have lifetime parole (I don't have the time or money to call every state):
Nevada
California
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Illinois
Kentucky
Alaska
New York
Iowa
Indiana
Many states have "life in prison", which can make one eligible for parole after 25 years - Hawaii is one of those states.
Interesting Case:
State of Iowa Appellee v Tripp Appellant 1/8/2010
Defendant was given lifetime parole for 3rd degree sexual abuse with a girl under age 15 and was more than four years older than she was and they were not cohabiting.
Iowa has a provision for being rleased from lifetime parole if the offender is "able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen without further supervision."
Opinion: Not ripe for debate based upon hypotheticals. Affirmed.
United States Parole Commission 301 492 5990
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