September 21, 2006
GOVERNOR ROMNEY ACCEPTS AWARD FOR STATE'S SUPPORT OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
Governor Mitt Romney today accepted the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Presented by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Massachusetts earned the honor for its exceptional support of the Guard and Reserves beyond federal requirements. One of only 15 employers nationwide to earn the top honor, nominees included private and public sector employers both large and small.
“Massachusetts has made tremendous changes to make sure our benefits and policies honor the commitment and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,” said Governor Romney. “I’m thankful for the Legislature’s support of my proposals to enhance military benefits, and I was happy to support theirs as well – together we’ve shown that Massachusetts cares very deeply about those who serve to keep us all free.”
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest in a series of Department of Defense employer awards that include the Patriot Award, the ESGR Above and Beyond Award and the Pro Patria Award. Earlier this year at the State House, Governor Romney joined members of the Legislature to accept the Pro Patria Award on behalf of Massachusetts. ESGR recognized Massachusetts as the most outstanding public sector employer for Reserve service members in the state.
Established in 1972, ESGR is a Department of Defense agency whose mission is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the National Guard and Reserve. Its volunteers provide free education and consultation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.
September 21, 2006
HEALEY SIGNS TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR SEX OFFENDERS INTO LAW
New safeguards will protect children and elders from convicted sexual predators
Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today signed legislation that imposes a range of new restrictions on convicted sex criminals, including banning Level 3 offenders from nursing homes, raising – and in some cases effectively eliminating – the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children and requiring offender classification prior to release.
“As public servants, it is incumbent upon us to recognize when new laws are needed and more importantly when old ones need to be changed,” said Healey. “Individuals who abuse, assault or rape children in Massachusetts will no longer be able to escape prosecution simply because a statue of limitations has expired.
Healey added, “They will no longer be able to escape justice by terrifying their victims into silence just long enough to avoid the statute of limitations.”
Healey said the new law dramatically extends the statute of limitations for a number of sex crimes against children, including the rape, assault or abuse of a child. The changes also apply to the indecent assault and battery of a mentally retarded person.
Previously certain statutes of limitations expired either six or 15 years after a victim turns 16, depending on the specific crime. The new law raises the statute of limitations of certain sex offenses to 27 years after a victim turns 16. Further, a new provision extends the statute of limitations “to life” if independent admissible evidence, such as DNA samples, is available to corroborate a victim’s allegation.
The law also makes several improvements to state’s classification process for sex offenders, enabling and requiring the Sex Offender Registry Board to classify offenders prior to their release. This important reform means that offenders will be under an immediate obligation to register with the SORB, closing the current loop-hole that allowed recent parolees what amounts to a “grace period” while they went through the classification process.
“The adoption of this law represents the culmination of more than four years of effort to give child victims of sexual abuse the time they need to heal, come forward and still have their day in court,” said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley. “I am so grateful to every victim, service provider, advocate and elected official who worked so diligently to craft a law that will allow prosecutors to bring more sexual predators to justice and provide more justice to victims.”
“Today’s bill signing is a great example of what we can accomplish when the Legislature works together with the governor’s office to make Massachusetts a better and safer place to live,” said Representative Bradley Jones, House Minority Leader. “Although there is still a great deal of work to be done to protect our communities from sexual predators, this legislation is a good, solid step in the right direction.”
The bill signed today also includes the following provisions:
Prohibits Level 3 sex offenders from living in a nursing or rest home and attaches criminal penalties to this offense;
Vastly expands the range of sex offenses for which an offender on probation or parole will be required to wear a GPS tracking device;
Subjects Level 2 and 3 sex offenders who fail to fulfill their registration obligations to lifetime community parole; and
Requires all convicted sex offenders who list homeless shelters as their address to verify their registration with the Sex Offender Registry Board every 45 days instead of every 90 days.
“This legislation shows what can be accomplished if we all work together. The safety of our children is something that concerns every parent in Massachusetts,” said Laurie Myers, President of Community VOICES, an advocacy group focused on child safety. “We all must remember that those convicted of sex crimes will eventually be released into our neighborhoods and today we are giving law enforcement officials another tool to protect our children.”
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