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Session: State Capitol, Room 432 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2679 Fax: (907) 465-4822 Send E-Mail Interim: 600 E. Railroad Ave., #1 Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 376-2679 Fax: (907) 373-4745 |
Capital Punishment for Child Murder
An Act relating to murder; authorizing capital punishment, classifying
murder in the first degree as a capital felony, and allowing the imposition of the
death penalty when certain of those murders are committed against children;
establishing sentencing procedures for capital felonies; and amending Rules 32,
32.1, and 32.3, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Rules 204, 209, 210,
and 212, Alaska Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Updated: March 25, 1999
HB 75 was introduced primarily to protect the lives of children. Under our present system of justice, when a sexual predator strikes, they have no incentive to preserve their young victims lives.
My intent with this legislation is to serve notice to any sexual predator who would consider murdering their young victim that their own life would be forfeit also. Although it may not always deter a murder, if it did only in a few instances, it would be well worth it. By giving the death penalty as an option to Alaskan juries instead of just a longer prison term, we will perhaps save some children which otherwise would have been lost.
I am hopeful everyone will support this effort as those young victims this legislation is directed towards deserve our best effort at their protection.