By Staff
On Tuesday, during a special session called by Riley, Alabama lawmakers unanimously voted in favor of handing out harsher penalties for child molesters. The law will also require released molesters to wear an electronic bracelet for no less than 10 years.
Attorney General Troy King wore the ankle bracelet last week to demonstrate support for the bill and later removed it during a news conference.
In a statement, King said "We're not going to allow sex offenders in Alabama any longer to be slapped on the wrist."
Under the new bill, people convicted of a Class A felony sex offense involving a child will have to wear the ankle bracelet, and will cost the state an esimated $4.50 to $9 a day per convict.
The bill also calls for a mandatory 20-year prison term for a person convicted a Class A felony sex offense against a child, including first-degree rape, first degree sodomy, sexual torture and kidnapping a child under the age of 12.
King said some lawmakers said they feared castration of sexual offendersbecause of inhumane punishment.
At least three sexual offenders in this county have been arrested for violating the Sexual Notification Act this year. With the new law going into effect, sexual predators will no longer be able to roam the streets ad harm innocent children.