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Child sex offenders prohibited
from operating businesses that photograph children
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New law strengthens ability to protect the
public by imposing restrictions, tightening parole supervision for child sex
offenders
[AUG. 17, 2004]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod
Blagojevich signed legislation Aug. 11 to better protect children
and the public from sex offenders.
House Bill 4135 prohibits child sex offenders from conducting or
operating a business that photographs children under the age of 18.
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"This new restriction, along with our
innovative parole reform program at the Department of Corrections
that includes the aggressive monitoring of sex offenders, will
strengthen our ability to protect our children and our
communities," Gov. Blagojevich said. "This new law is another step
to ensure our children are not put in harm's way."
House Bill 4135, sponsored by Rep.
Terry Parke, R-Schaumburg, and Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago,
makes it unlawful for a child sex offender to knowingly conduct or
operate any type of business in which he or she photographs,
videotapes or takes a digital image of a child. The law also
prohibits child sex offenders from conducting or operating any
type of business in which they instruct or direct another person
to photograph, videotape or take a digital image of a child.
Violation of this law is a Class 2 felony.
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"Sex offenders can be creative when
choosing their victims and calculating their crimes," Gov.
Blagojevich added. "This new law is designed to address public
safety and protect our children by limiting child sex offenders'
ability to seek out their next victim."
Illinois Department of Corrections
Director Roger E. Walker Jr. said the agency is committed to the
challenge of strengthening parole supervision of sex offenders by
ensuring that all paroled sex offenders comply with their conditions
of parole.
"Through the
Operation Spotlight parole reform initiative, parole agents with
special training will provide intensive monitoring and supervision
of sex offenders to ensure they are accountable and meet the
requirements of their parole," Walker said. "A new surveillance unit
also is dedicated to addressing high-risk cases."
[News release from the
governor's office] |
