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Board of Parole backs more prison time for sex offenders
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Posted on Jun 10 2011
The Board of Parole supports a bill that seeks to increase the amount of jail time sexual offenders must serve before they become eligible for parole.
Acting Parole Board chair Rose Ada-Hocog said the time-served component of a sentence is currently too low in cases of sexual abuse of a minor and sexual assault where a convicted sex offender may be paroled after serving only a third of a sentence.
“The legislative example of a victim who is 11 to 16 years of age would be no older than 16 or 21 years of age when the need to testify at a parole would arise perfectly illustrates the need for increasing the time-served component necessary for parole eligibility,” Ada-Hocog said in a letter to Rep. Rafael S. Demapan, chairman of the House Judicial and Government Operations.
House Bill 17-193 was introduced by Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez. It seeks to establish mandatory sentences for sexual assault and sexual abuse of a minor.
There is currently no minimum mandatory penalty for some crimes involving sexual violence, only maximum sentences.
H.B. 17-193 is now with Demapan’s committee for review.
