Nava gets tough on sex offenders
District
attorneys in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties soon could have more leeway
when prosecuting sex offenders as the result of three new assembly bills being
proposed by Assemblymember Pedro Nava, D-Santa
Barbara.
In
a Feb. 22 press conference, Nava announced A.B. 2408, which would prohibit sex
offenses from being erased from juvenile records; A.B. 2409, which would allow
courts to access an individual’s juvenile sex offense history; and A.B. 2410,
which would prohibit the disclosure of victims’ information during civil
proceedings.
“If
it means that we have to change current law so there’s better protection for
individuals, that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Nava said.
He
said that the three measures are intended to “put the fear of god” in people
who commit heinous sex crimes and to stop what he called the “laundering” of
such crimes. He added that the bills are intended to better equip prosecutors
and other authorities to protect communities and victims of sex crimes.
“These
bills allow the judges and juries to make more informed decisions,” said Joyce
Dudley, Santa Barbara District attorney, “and it gives more protection to
victims.”
Sheriff’s
Department Commander Darren Fotheringham said that he
agreed with Dudley that such laws are needed.
The
three bills aim to change current law, which allow the juvenile sex crime
records to be expunged if the individual completes rehabilitation and prohibits
courts to view or consider the juvenile records of repeat offenders. Though a
victim’s information is protected by the rules governing criminal proceedings,
the same information is not protected in civil proceedings.
According
to Nava, one in six Californians who are classified as violent sexual offenders
reside in Ventura and Santa Barbara, and 1,278 sex offenders are nearing the
end of their prison sentences.