Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Child sex offenders are in the cross-hairs of Illinois senators, who say legal loopholes victimize the vulnerable.
“When it comes to child exploitation, grooming, and trafficking, we cannot afford to not act. We cannot allow our laws to leave room for real predators to avoid real consequences,” said State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “These are not just headlines or statistics. These are real children, real families, and real lives being changed forever.”
Rezin is carrying Andrew’s Law, which would eliminate plea agreements for certain sex crimes against kids – grooming, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, and trafficking in persons involving a minor.
State Sen. Darby Hills (R-Barrington Hills) described a case of a man who planted a camera in a restroom and was punished, but later was free to re-offend,
State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) said penalties should be more severe. “We have a duty to put protections and consequences in place,” she said in support of upgrading sentences for all child sex offenders.
