Senator Shamp Champions One of the Toughest Laws in the Nation for Child Sex Offenders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                      

Monday, June 24, 2024

Senator Shamp Champions One of the Toughest Laws in the Nation

for Child Sex Offenders

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Protecting Arizona's children from criminals who seek to inflict harm upon them is a top priority for Senator Janae Shamp. This legislative session, she successfully championed several bills imposing harsher punishments and accountability for sex offenders targeting one our state's most vulnerable populations, including the passage of one of the toughest laws in America against these predators.

Most recently, SB 1232  was signed into law. This bill classifies sexual conduct with a minor as a class 1 felony, punishable by natural life imprisonment if the child is 12 years old or younger and suffers serious physical injury.

"I'm incredibly grateful for this new law to crack down on these evil crimes. It's heartbreaking such a law was even needed in the first place," said Senator Shamp. "If a criminal sexually abuses a child so badly that it causes them serious physical injury, they should NEVER experience the free world again. I strongly believe this, which is why I worked to ensure these offenders face life in prison. We are sending a message to the nation that in Arizona, these wicked acts will not be tolerated, and these monsters engaging in them will face the full force of the law. I dedicated this session to help protect our innocent children from these animals, but I know there's still more work to be done."

The following bills sponsored by Senator Shamp were also signed into law this session:

SB 1236 will soon require additional level one sex offenders convicted of Dangerous Crimes Against Children (DCAC) to be published on the internet sex offender website.

Convicted sex offenders are assigned as level one, level two, or level three based upon their perceived risk of reoffending. Under current law, many level one offenders are not required to be listed on the state's offender website, leading to an unawareness among parents, coaches, teachers, and the public at large on the criminal past of these individuals who may very well have subsequent encounters with children.

SB 1404 will ensure schools are notified if a parent of a child attending that school is a registered sex offender convicted of a DCAC. This new law particularly addresses situations where children are attending a school out of the district in which they live.

These laws take effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov