Juneau -- Child murderers will receive increased punishment under legislation unanimously approved today by the State Senate. Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Senator Rick Halford (R-Chugiak), will establish more severe mandatory minimum sentences for those who murder society's most vulnerable members.

"Under current state law, when a child is killed, even when the killer is convicted, the murderer often does not receive the punishment deserved," said Sen. Halford. "By establishing punishment more fitting with the crime, we send a clear message of deterrence--if you kill a child, you will go to jail for a very long time," Sen. Halford said.

Senate Bill 3 makes the following changes to Alaska's criminal statutes:

• amends current law by adding a new form of first degree murder when the death of a child results from the commission or attempted commission of kidnapping, or of a sexual offense;
• expands the list of offenses constituting felony murder to include sexual abuse of a minor in the first and second degrees;
• adds a new form of second degree murder when a death of a child was caused with criminal negligence, and the offender has a previous conviction of certain crimes against a child;
• elevates criminally negligent homicide from a class C to a class B felony;
• establishes a twenty year mandatory minimum sentence for a person convicted of a murder of a child under the age of sixteen;
• increases the mandatory minimum sentence (from five to seven years) for manslaughter, when the victim is a child under the age of sixteen;
• establishes a new sentencing provision, which allows for a term of unsuspended imprisonment that exceeds the presumptive term, for certain felony offenses if the victim is a child under the age of 16;
• expands the crime of custodial interference in the first degree to include the act of keeping a child or incompetent person outside of the state;
• elevates solicitation of murder to an unclassified felony.

Senate Bill 3 is co-sponsored by Sen. Randy Phillips (R-Eagle River), Sen. Dave Donley (R-Anchorage), Sen. Lyda Green (R-Wasilla), Sen. Loren Leman (R-Anchorage), Sen. Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell), Sen. Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), Sen. Pete Kelly (R-Fairbanks), Sen. Tim Kelly (R-Anchorage), Sen. Mike Miller (R-North Pole), Sen. Jerry Ward (R-Anchorage), Sen. Jerry Mackie (R-Craig), and Sen. Georgianna Lincoln (D-Rampart).

SB 3 will now move to the House for consideration.

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