There are over a half-million registered sex offenders in the United States. According to a study by the US Department of Justice, convicted rape or sexual assault offenders in our state prison self-report that two-thirds of their victims are children under the age of eighteen. Even more remarkably, 58% of those prisoners said their victims were age twelve or younger. The American Medical Association estimates that sexual assault is the most rapidly growing violent crime in America. We need to stop it!

There should be no greater priority than protecting North Carolina children from sex crimes. I've sponsored Jessica's Law in the North Carolina Senate to crack down on violent sexual predators and safeguard our children from them. Sexual offenders who have served time for sexual assault are over seven times more likely than those convicted of other crimes to be re-arrested for sexual assault. Even when released, they pose an increased threat to society. Jessica's Law requires sex offenders released on parole to wear a GPS tracking device for life. It prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or local park and it empowers local governments to create additional predator-free zones. It also expands the definition of sexually violent predators so that law enforcement officials don't have to wait for predators to strike twice before acting.

Other key provisions of the Act:

• Prohibits a sexual predator from working or volunteering for child-involved activities.
• Increases sentences and fines for sexual predators.
• Gives law enforcement officials the tools to fight sexual predators without one hand tied behind the back.