Washington, Mar 8, 2006 -

U.S. Congressman John Carter (TX-31) today voted in favor of the Children’s Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act, which will help protect the safety of our children; secure the safety of judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and their family members; and combat and prevent gang violence to help secure our nation’s communities.

“As a state district judge for 20 years, I put criminals behind bars so our children might live in a safer world. The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable. The Children’s Safety Act will help protect children from the perpetrators of these vile crimes by strengthening notification requirements for sex offenders and increasing criminal penalties,” Congressman Carter said. “I also have first-hand knowledge about the increasing dangers facing our courthouses and public safety officers. By stiffening penalties for crimes against judges, federal law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, and jurors, we can better protect people as they fulfill their duty to deliver justice.”

Among other things, the Children’s Safety Act will do the following:

• Improve the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register – and keep current – where they reside, work, and attend school;

• Create the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website to search for sex offender information in each community;

• Require states to notify each other when sex offenders move from one state to another;

• Create a new criminal penalty of up to a maximum of 20 years for sex offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements;

• Protect foster children from sexual abuse and exploitation and increase criminal penalties for child sexual predators;
• Stiffen criminal penalties where the victim is a United States judge, federal law enforcement officer, or a federally funded public safety officer;
• Increase penalties for crimes against victims, witnesses, jurors, and informants; and
• Help protect immediate family members to enhancing criminal penalties.

Congressman Carter has long supported initiatives to protect our nation’s children. In 2003, Carter wrote a provision of the AMBER Alert law that requires the Department of Justice to review the background approval process for volunteers of child related organizations. The pilot program requires the Attorney General’s office to look at the current state of fingerprinting technology and the federal and state governments’ capacity to perform these checks.