The “Children’s Safety Act of 2005,” co-sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) was approved by the House of Representatives today by a vote of 371-52. The bill enhances child protection from sex offenders by improving notification programs and strengthening criminal penalties.

    “One-in-five girls and one-in-ten boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood and the recidivism rate of sex offenders makes it clear that a child predator will be a permanent threat against our children .” said Smith, who has continually fought for increased penalties and streamlined registration systems to further protect children from sexual predators. “I believe that that those who commit sex crimes against children should be put away for life. In the interim, as we work toward that goal, I will support legislation that increases the penalties against those who commit these despicable crimes and puts them where they belong – behind bars.” 

    The bill – H.R. 3132 – strengthens sex offender registration and notification programs and improves verification systems for sex offender information by requiring monthly in-person verification. States will now be required to have a uniform, public access sex offender registration website. In addition, states will now be required to notify each other when a sex offender moves from one to another.

    Smith noted that the bill also aims to protect children by increasing criminal penalties against child sexual predators and creates a new criminal penalty for a sex offender who fails to comply with registration requirements. It also deters violent crimes against and sexual exploitation of children, and establishes many more protections.

    “It is the number one responsibility of government to protect those unable to protect themselves from harm,” Smith said. “With passage of this bill today, it will be much more difficult for convicted sex offenders to have access to innocent children.” 

    This year marks the 11^th anniversary of the murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka (Hamilton, New Jersey) by a convicted sex offender who lived across the street from her home. Rep. Smith has worked with the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation – established by the Kanka family – to procure federal funding for the “Check ’Em Out Program,” which helps non-profit organizations in New Jersey to pay for state and federal fingerprint checks for chaperones, coaches and managers. 

    “By mandating tougher child sex offender laws, improving and streamlining registration programs and encouraging more initiatives like the ‘Check ‘Em Out Program’, we create layers of security around our children,” Smith said. “The more layers, the safer our children are.”

The Children’s Safety Act of 2005:

• Improves the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register, and keep current, where they reside, work and attend school.
  
• Improves verification systems for sex offender information by requiring monthly verification, sex offender in-person verification every six months, and regular notarized verification mailings.
  
• Requires States to have a uniform, public access sex offender registration website.
  
• Creates Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website to search for sex offender information in each community.
  
• Expands sex offenders to include juvenile sex offenders.
  
• Requires States to notify each other when a sex offender moves from state-to-state.
  
• Expands sex offenses covered by registration and notification requirements to include military, tribal, and foreign sex crimes, and increases duration of registration requirements to protect the public.
  
• Expands community notification requirements to include active efforts to inform law enforcement agencies, schools, public housing, social service agencies and volunteer organizations in area where a sex offender resides, works or attends school.
  
• Creates new criminal penalty for a sex offender who fails to comply with registration requirements.
  
• Expands law enforcement use of DNA to solve sex crimes.
  
• Prevents and deters violent crimes against children and sexual exploitation of children.
  
• Protects foster children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
  
• Increases criminal penalties against child sexual predators.