On June 8, 2006, Governor Mark Sanford signed Jessie's Law, a bill aimed at protecting our state's children through tougher penalties for sex predators. Named after Jessica Marie Lunsford -- who was murdered last year in Florida by a registered sex offender -- the law imposes a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for sex predators and mandates Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) monitoring for sex offenders convicted of certain offenses. In addition, the law:

• Gives PPP jurisdiction for all offenders placed on GPS;
• Requires mandatory placement on GPS if convicted of CSC with a minor, 1st or lewd act with a minor (all other offenses are discretionary with the judge);
• Allows for anyone placed on GPS to petition the court after 10 years to be removed from GPS (with the exception of CSC with a minor, 1st and lewd act with a minor); and
• Creates a new criminal offense for willful violations of electronic monitoring.

Jessie's Law