Taft Signs Stricter Sex Offender Laws

Outgoing Governor Bob Taft (R-OH) signed two pieces of legislation that will institute new and stricter sex offender laws in Ohio. Each new law, called Jessica's Law and Nicole's Law respectively, will require courts to consider prior criminal behavior when setting bail, require convicted sex offenders to wear GPS satellite devices, and judges will now be required to sentence sex offenders with a child under the age of 13 to a minimum sentence of 2 years in state prison. Nicole's Law will require a sexual offender to appear before a judge and also a parole board.