House Passes Legislation Relative to Repeat Offenders and Human Trafficking
November 17, 2011-BOSTON – Representative David Torrisi (D-North Andover) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing legislation that modifies current law governing cases of repeat criminal offenders as well as cracking down on human trafficking.
The repeat offender legislation, which was passed by the House, would require habitual offenders to serve 2/3 of their sentence, before becoming eligible for parole. Furthermore, habitual offender status would be realized when an offender, after being convicted of any two major crimes, is convicted of a third major crime. Major crimes include murder, manslaughter, rape, child enticement and kidnapping. The offender would be ineligible for parole upon conviction of a third offense and would be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for the maximum term provided by law.
“This legislation has been before our state for a decade and I am so pleased to have been part of its passage,” said Representative Torrisi. “Our system has been ill-prepared to handle habitual offenders and this bill will do much to right our system.”
This legislation now moves to the Senate where a conference committee will be created to develop a comprehensive crime bill that is acceptable to both the House and Senate.
In addition to repeat offender legislation, both the House and Senate passed human trafficking legislation this week which is seen to be the most comprehensive of its kind in the country. The conference report approved by the House and Senate includes sentencing of up to five years in prison for attempted human trafficking, up to 20 years for trafficking adults, and up to life imprisonment for the trafficking of minors. In addition, this bill establishes an Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, comprised of state officials, law enforcement, victims’ services organizations and trafficking victims to investigate and study rates of human trafficking, prevention, and the treatment of victims. Finally, this legislation also creates the “Victims of Human Trafficking Trust Fund” which will be funded from fines and convicted human traffickers’ forfeited assets.
“My colleagues and I in the House and Senate have passed one of the most crucial pieces of legislation possible this session,” said Representative Torrisi. “This bill will protect the most vulnerable people in our state and will ensure that those who violate this law will face the harshest of punishments.”
The legislation now goes to the Governor for his review and expected signature.
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