California Assembly District 65 Candidate Brenda Salas Selected as Regional Co-Chair for Jessica's Law

Banning Councilwoman Brenda Salas and other elected officials gathered at a February 21 press conference at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to announce that over 713,000 signatures have been submitted to place California’s “Jessica’s Law” initiative on the November 2006 ballot

(PRWEB) April 5, 2006 -- To qualify on the ballot, the Jessica’s Law initiative was required to provide only 373,816 signatures to qualify the measure, however, the Jessica’s Law organizers submitted 713,787 signatures of California voters.

“The people of California recognize the urgent need to protect our children by doing a better job of monitoring those who have committed these appalling crimes.” Councilwoman Salas stated. “Last year there were 22 instances of lewd acts and 4 instances of attempted kidnapping in my City of Banning alone. The legislature has failed to act on this issue, so we must take our case directly to the people of this great State,” Salas added.

In an effort to better protect children and citizens from sexual predators, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act (“Jessica’s Law”) has been introduced in the Legislature by the initiative’s proponents (SB 588 – Runner; AB 231 – Runner) while the initiative signature drive was underway. The Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act of 2006 has received the overwhelming support of notable individuals such as Governor Arnold, Senator George Runner, Assemblywomen Sharon Runner, and private organizations throughout California.

“The implementation of GPS monitoring of sexual predators is a crucial step in the fight to protect our children,” said Salas, “which is why, as Regional Co-Chair for this initiative, I have been so committed to getting Jessica’s Law on the ballot.”

Jessica’s Law strengthens provisions in current law while creating several new protections for families including GPS tracking of felony sex offenders for life, new predator-free zones for schools and parks, and a mandatory 25 years to life sentence for first time “sexually violent predator” convictions. In addition, Jessica’s Law makes it a felony to possess or produce child pornography and to use the Internet to lure or abuse children.

“In Riverside County alone, over 2,330 registered sex offenders freely live, work, and commute through our county with little scrutiny. As a Regional Co-Chair for the Jessica’s Law Initiative, I support defending our innocent by equipping our local agencies, in order to combat and prosecute those who prey on children. I feel confident that this measure will fairly punish those that commit these hideous acts,” stated Salas.

As a Banning Councilmember, the “Jessica’s Law initiative will enable me as a local elected official to “create predator free zones” around sites that we deem appropriate. Under current law, some sexual predators that are convicted of lewd and lascivious acts committed with a child cannot live within one-quarter mile or (1320 ft.) of a school for the duration of their parole,” said Salas.

According to the language proposed in “Jessica’s Law” all registered sex offenders would be prohibited from living within (2000 ft) from a school or park for the duration of their registration. In addition to other pertinent measures, the initiative will grant local government the ability to include “predator free zones” as they deem appropriate.

For more information visit the Brenda Salas Web site at www.brendasalas.com or contact Jeff Gibson at (949) 851-8511.

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