News from
Representative Randy Ramey
District 55 - Republican
For Immediate Release
Date: Feb. 16, 2006
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News from |
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| Contact | 1883 N. Neltnor Blvd. (Rt. 59) | 213-N Stratton Building | ||
| West Chicago, IL 60185 | Springfield, IL 62706 | |||
| Phone: | 630-876-0703 | Phone : 217-558-1037 | ||
| Fax: | 630-231-3742 | Fax: 217-558-1037 | ||
| STATEREPRAMEY55@aol.com | ||||
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For Immediate Release |
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Date: Feb. 16, 2006 |
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Ramey Bill to Tighten Sex Offender Tracking Passes House
Springfield, IL…A bill sponsored by State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-Carol Stream) that will tighten tracking measures used to monitor the whereabouts of sexual offenders and predators passed the House yesterday.
“I’m pleased we were able to move forward with this legislation,” Ramey said. “I feel good knowing that we’re taking another step to help protect people in our community from those who have been convicted of violent sexual crimes.”
House Bill 4222 requires that if a person must register as a sex offender in Illinois for an act involving a victim under the age of 16, then they are required to wear an approved electronic monitoring device. The device, worn for the duration of the person’s parole or mandatory supervised release term, will allow law enforcement officials to identify an offender’s location and presence near crime scenes or prohibited areas.
In addition, this legislation requires sex offenders to register with state officials every six months as opposed to registering once a year as they do now under the Sex Offender Registration Act.
This bill stems from a Florida case where 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a 46-year-old man who had failed to register his change of address as a required sex offender. The March 2005 incident in which Jessica was murdered has spurred similar legislation proposals across the country to tighten sex offender laws.
“Convicted sexual predators need to be monitored closely because of numerous previous records that indicate these people usually strike more than once,” Ramey said. “This bill that was passed gives authorities another tool to help crack down on predators from being in places in which they are forbidden by our state laws.”
For more information, contact Rep. Ramey at (630) 876-0703.
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