(NASHVILLE) — Republican lawmakers have unanimously passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Mary Littleton (R-Dickson) and Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) that creates additional protection against child predators.
Communities across Tennessee already rely on the state’s sex offender registry to track and monitor convicted offenders who have moved into permanent or secondary residences upon release from prison.
House Bill 404 enables law enforcement officials to monitor offenders convicted of child rape or a child sexual predator offense who may not have a permanent address by requiring them to enroll in a satellite-based monitoring and supervision program. Anyone in Tennessee who has been convicted of a crime against a child on or after July 1, 2017 that does not have a permanent or secondary address must enroll in the program and remain in it for the duration of their parole term.
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, 60 percent of children are abused by someone they know. Stop Child Predators, a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to preventing child exploitation and other crimes against children, estimates that 1 in 5 girls are exploited before they reach adulthood. This legislation adds an additional layer of protection for Tennessee children against predators.
“Children are our most precious gift, and we must focus on protecting their innocence and safety,” said Representative Littleton. “House Bill 404 accomplishes this goal by making it tougher for criminals to elude prosecution from members of our local law enforcement communities.”
“This monitoring system allows us to determine if the probation or parole has been violated by showing the location of the sexual offender,” added Senator Bell. “We want to be able to monitor all offenders, regardless of whether they have a permanent address. This is the only way to help ensure the safety of children.”
The full text of House Bill 404 can be accessed by visiting the Tennessee General Assembly website at: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0404&ga=110
Mary Littleton is a member of the House State Government Committee and Subcommittee, as well as the House Criminal Justice Committee. Littleton lives in Dickson and represents House District 78, which includes a portion of Cheatham and Dickson Counties. She can be reached by email at: [email protected] or by calling (615) 741-7477.
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