JSA2026 Policy: Maximum Penalties for Crimes Against Women and Children
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Victim Protection & Justice Enhancement Act
“I’m not a good candidate — I’m the right one.”
We will protect the innocent and remove predators from our communities. Justice delayed is danger delivered.
Why This Law — The Reality Families Live
- Hidden crisis: Far too many assaults and child‑abuse cases never see court; survivors face long waits, closed doors, or quiet plea deals.
- Repeat harm: A small number of offenders commit multiple crimes over years; neighborhoods carry the risk while paperwork stalls.
- System gaps: Backlogs in rape‑kit testing, limited relocation help, and uneven school/workplace screening expose families to preventable danger.
- What changes under JSA2026: Maximum, mandatory penalties for violent sexual crimes; transparent tracking; survivor services funded first; and clocks that the state must meet.
Maximum Penalties — No Deals, No Loopholes
- Category A Felony Reclassification: Rape, predatory sexual assault, aggravated child abuse, sex trafficking of minors, and violent harm against women or children are reclassified for mandatory maximum sentencing.
- No Plea‑Down / No Early Release: Statutory bar on plea reductions below violent‑felony level; parole ineligible for these offenses; earned‑time credits prohibited.
- Lifetime Controls: Court‑ordered lifetime registration, no‑contact orders, and, where appropriate, continuous GPS monitoring with tamper‑proof technology.
- Mandatory Consecutive Sentences: Separate victims = separate, consecutive terms. Each life harmed is counted.
- School/Child‑Zone Exclusions: Permanent residency and employment exclusion zones near schools, daycares, shelters, and youth facilities.
- Trafficking & Conspiracy: Financial forfeiture, asset seizure, and mandatory restitution for trafficking networks and facilitators.
Bottom line: violent sexual offenders do not cycle back into our neighborhoods.
Survivor‑First Services — Safety, Care, Stability
- 24/7 Rapid Response: Fund hospital‑based Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) statewide; forensic exams within required timeframes; trauma‑informed care from the first hour.
- Relocation & Housing: Emergency relocation grants; confidential shelter expansion; lock‑change and security upgrades funded within 72 hours of order.
- Legal & Financial Aid: State‑paid counsel for orders of protection; fee waivers; fast‑track victim compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and childcare.
- Rape‑Kit Accountability: Zero‑backlog rule with a live dashboard; chain‑of‑custody reporting; automatic notifications to survivors at each step.
- Work & School Safety: Employer and school safety plans; protected leave; campus‑safety compliance checks with penalties for non‑response.
- Mental Health First: Priority access to counseling, addiction support when needed, and long‑term therapy vouchers.
Transparency & Tracking — No More Blind Spots
- Public Offender Portal: Expanded registry with court status, residency restrictions, and compliance checks visible to the public.
- Real‑Time Alerts: Survivor‑opt‑in notifications for custody changes, movements violating exclusion zones, and order‑of‑protection status.
- DNA & Evidence: Mandatory DNA collection for all convicted offenders; universal kit tracking; court‑enforceable sanctions for delays.
- School & Care Employer Screening: Audited background checks with random spot‑checks; license loss for non‑compliance.
- Data Integrity: Independent audits by IG/Comptroller; quarterly public reports; whistleblower protections and rewards for exposing failures.
Safeguards & Due Process — Tough and Lawful
- Victim‑Centered Prosecution: Trauma‑informed interview standards; counsel for victims during proceedings; limits on unnecessary repeat testimony.
- Evidence Standards: Maintain robust proof thresholds; expand digital‑evidence capacity and forensic training to strengthen cases and reduce dismissal risk.
- Civil Liberties Intact: Guaranteed right to counsel, discovery compliance, and appellate review within set timelines to ensure swift, lawful outcomes.
- Target the Violent: Maximum penalties focus on violent sexual crimes and aggravated offenses against women and children. Non‑violent offenders are routed to treatment, work, and supervision under separate programs.
- Officer Support: Training, mental‑health supports, and clear protocols to reduce burnout and improve case quality.
Delivery & Metrics — Results You Can Verify
- Legislation: Statutory reclassification, plea restrictions, exclusion zones, registry expansion, survivor funding, DNA mandates, and clocks for testing and appeals.
- Executive Actions (Day‑One): Rape‑kit backlog audit; survivor relocation fund activation; launch of statewide SART expansion; employer/school compliance directives.
- 12‑Month Targets: 100% rape‑kit tracking live; zero test backlog; ≥90% compliance on school/care screenings; relocation grants processed within 7 days on average.
- 24‑Month Targets: Violent‑sex‑crime plea‑down rate near zero by statute; time‑to‑trial reduced via dedicated dockets; verified reduction in repeat‑offender violations due to GPS/exclusion enforcement.
If the metrics don’t move, we change the process — not our promises.
Stand With Survivors — Help Pass This Law
Share this plan. Testify at hearings. Bring us the stories and gaps we still need to close — we will fix them in public.
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