COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)
- Legislation tightening restrictions on sex
offenders is headed to the full Senate.
The Senate Finance Committee passed the bill
Tuesday requiring lifetime electronic monitoring
for some sex offenders and minimum sentencing
standards.
Some supporters want the bill changed to
protect sexually active teens from being forced to
wear an electronic ankle bracelet for life.
"My intention has never been to put ankle
bracelets on kids (when) 'Daddy' finds out and
he's mad," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia,
referring to statutory rape cases in which teens
are sometimes prosecuted.
Some prosecutors also are concerned that the
minimum sentencing standards in the bill could
affect the way cases are handled.
Solicitor Barbara Morgan said some defendants
who would consider pleading guilty would be more
likely to force a trial if they are facing a
mandatory 25-year sentence. Such a trial also
could force often-reluctant victims to testify,
she said.
"It makes us swim without our hands," Morgan
said.
The Finance Committee could only address the
funding aspects of the bill, said Sen. Mike Fair,
R-Greenville. Changes, however, probably will be
made on the Senate floor.
The state spending plan, which will be debated
in the House next week, could include $4.1 million
to begin an electronic monitoring program.
