Do you think that someone who is accused of breaking into a home through a bathroom window in the middle of the night and raping a 6-year-old child should be set free on just $10,000 cash bail?
I think that’s plainly wrong, and as a story in today’s Boston Globe points out, there’s a very good reason why.
The facts above were precisely the allegations leveled against a criminal defendant in Kingston earlier this summer. The defendant eventually was released from custody on $10,000 bail, free to roam the streets unmonitored pending trial. What makes this case even more tragic is that the same defendant started dating another woman in the interim period and, this past Friday, allegedly raped her 3-year-old daughter while the woman was sleeping.
I find these allegations disgusting, and I think we have a responsibility to make sure cases like this one don’t happen again in the future.
In my opinion, dangerous sex offenders should not be permitted to roam around and prey on innocent victims. I’ve fought tirelessly throughout my time in the House of Representatives to push for tougher sentencing of sexual predators, and for stronger monitoring of convicted sex offenders who are released on probation and parole.
My view doesn’t change based on where a criminal defendant is at in the court system. I understand the constitutional rights of the accused. But if there are credible allegations that someone has committed a rape and that they present a danger to society, I believe that person has no business being set free on bail to prowl the streets pending trial.
That’s why I am filing legislation to require that judges hold a dangerousness hearing prior to setting bail for any defendant charged with a serious sexual offense. That hearing will require the judge to evaluate whether there is enough credible evidence to conclude that the defendant poses a risk to society and a likelihood of reoffense, not just whether the defendant poses a risk of flight pending trial.
By their very nature, sex offenders pose a serious danger to public safety whenever they’re free to roam the streets. The only responsible place for them is behind bars. And it’s time for our state to get more serious about putting them there.
Do you agree? Please let me know by posting a comment below.
