Cantwell urges consistent sex offender laws

The nation needs consistent laws for tracking and prosecuting sex offenders, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said Friday during a stop in Spokane. And it needs them quickly.

“There is a wide disparity among states … that is being exploited by sex offenders with tragic consequences,” said Cantwell, who specifically listed the killing, kidnapping and sexual abuse involving the Groene family in North Idaho as an impetus for the bill. “This is not a matter that can wait.”

Cantwell, D-Wash., expects legislation she is sponsoring to get a hearing in the coming weeks in the Senate Judiciary Committee and hopes it will pass by the end of the year.

Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and child welfare advocates joined Cantwell at the news conference and agreed changes are needed.

Spokane Valley Police Chief Cal Walker said the bill shortens the amount of time sex offenders are allowed before they must register their addresses with law enforcement officials and toughens penalties for those who don’t register.

“We aren’t holding them accountable,” Walker said. “We need to know where these people are.”

Under Cantwell’s proposal, a sexual offender who fails to register within 10 days could face five years in prison. Those who were convicted of a violent sexual offense could be sentenced to 10 years for failing to register.

It also requires monthly verification of the sexual offender’s residence, and an in-person visit with a parole officer or other corrections official every six months. An offender can be tracked for 20 years after being released from prison for committing a misdemeanor sexual crime against a minor. Repeat offenders would be tracked for life.

Tracking devices would be required, Walker said, although the type of device could vary from state to state.

The law also rewrites federal penalties for sexual offenses against children, allowing the death penalty or life imprisonment for a crime that involves the death of the victim, and life imprisonment if sexual assault or kidnapping results in the victim being maimed or suffering serious injury.

It also sets up a nationwide sex offender registry.

Cantwell said the new law will come with higher costs for prosecution and incarceration. She expects the federal government will help with the costs of extra monitoring, but probably won’t cover everything.

“We’ll try to figure out what we can do to be supportive,” she said. “We can’t let (the changes) sit on the sidelines because of funding.”