Tougher Mandatory Sentencing for Child Abusers
In the United States, more than three children die as a result of child abuse each day. ... There are more children under the age of four who die from child abuse and neglect than any other leading cause of death. ... Child abuse is an epidemic in our nation, and action needs to be taken by everyone to change what seems to be an increasing trend. ... Mandatory sentencing laws need to be enacted by the federal government. Much of the sentencing guidelines are left in the hands of the individual states and vary significantly. Stronger sentencing needs to be in place to remove the offenders from society and protect our children. ... Being a former police officer and considering the amount of evidence that needs to be gathered to obtain a conviction in a child abuse case, it is upsetting to see that you must convict this person twice and then have a third offense before the state will establish that there is a significant problem and stronger sentencing is required. ... So where does this leave a child who has been sexually assaulted by a parent, when the other parent, representing the child, agrees to the counseling? ... Tougher mandatory sentencing for sexual assault on children is a must. ... The guidelines should say that if you are convicted of raping a child then you should be sentenced to a minimum time in prison, regardless of your relation to that child. Let’s have this time reflect a more serious sentencing than for that of burglary. ... Someone who is charged and convicted for minor theft that has a prior conviction will do more time in prison, under the three strikes law, than someone who rapes their own child. ... A three-year-old child was murdered by his caregiver, who plead guilty to two counts of child abuse and was sentenced to four years of probation. ... What an outrage and injustice to the child and the child’s parents. Many of the states set their own sentencing guidelines for these crimes.