Protecting Children

Granholm Takes Another Step
to Protect Michigan’s Children

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed legislation that will strengthen penalties for sex offenders who target children. The eight-bill package known as Jessica’s Law is named for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender in Florida last year.

"We must continue to take steps to protect our children," said Granholm. "I am proud to sign legislation that will help keep the predators who target the young behind bars where they belong."

The legislative package creates a new 25-year mandatory minimum sentence for adults convicted of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) where the victim is under the age of 13. Any offender with a previous CSC conviction will receive an automatic life sentence. In addition, offenders convicted of first or second degree CSC with a victim under the age of 13 will be required to wear electronic monitoring devices if paroled.

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RE-ELECT Gov. Jennifer Granholm