Friday, July 7, 2006

 Previous State Circle Guests

Upcoming Political Campaigns

The political campaigns in Maryland are heating-up. Tonight we'll look at the candidates and issues.

Terry Lierman

Chairman, Maryland Democratic Party

 Maryland Democratic Party

Audra Miller

Communications Director, Maryland Republican Party

 Maryland Republican Party

Sexual Predator Legislation

Sexual Predator legislation was passed in the special session of the Maryland Legislature last month. The law set minimum sentencing guidelines for offenders which supporters say is needed to protect children and insure proper sentencing. Opponents say that mandatory minimum sentences take away the discretion of the judge to decide on each case based on it's merits.

Key details: Subject convicted child sex offenders to extended parole between three years after release from jail to lifetime supervision, based on a pre-release clinical evaluation. Require child sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies every three months and have updated photographs taken annually. Notify public and private school administrators when a child sex offender resides, works or attends school nearby. Bar convicted sex offenders, including in construction crews, from school property without written permission from local school officials except to vote or if they have a child at the school. Set a parole-eligible mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for anyone 18 or older convicted of first-degree rape or first-degree sexual offense of a child under 13. Set a minimum five-year sentence with the possibility of parole for anyone convicted of second-degree rape or second-degree sexual offense of a child under 13.

Stacie Rumenap

Executive Director, Stop Child Predators

 Stop Child Predators

Gill Cochran

Criminal Defense Attorney

 Law Offices of Gil Cochran