H-1158.2          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1758

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Ferguson, R. Meyers, Horn, Paris, Haugen, May, Winsley, Betrozoff, Tate, Vance, Neher, Mitchell, Wood, R. Johnson, Wineberry, Roland, Orr, Bowman, Rasmussen, Forner, D. Sommers and Chandler.

 

Read first time February 7, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.Subjecting rapists to a ninety-nine year sentence when the victim is under twelve.


     AN ACT Relating to the penalty for rapists of children under age twelve; adding a new section to chapter 9.94A RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that rape of a child in the first degree, particularly when the child is under twelve years of age, is one of the most offensive and outrageous crimes in our society.  The emotional damage to the victims of this crime, and to the families and friends of the victims, is not only of the most severe nature, but is also everlasting.

     The legislature finds that persons who commit this offense have a high probability of reoffending and that public safety will best be served by imposing a sentence of extreme length.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW to read as follows:

     Every person eighteen years of age or older who commits rape of a child in the first degree upon a victim who is under twelve years of age shall be sentenced to not less than ninety-nine years of total confinement in the state penitentiary.