Congress Proposes Death Penalty for Federal Child Sexual Abuse Crimes
Where Things Stand
The legislation is currently referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Armed Services for consideration. If enacted, it would replace life imprisonment with the death penalty for four specific federal child sexual abuse crimes, setting up a direct challenge to current Supreme Court precedent.
The Facts
How We Got Here
Who This Affects
Hurts
People convicted of federal sexual abuse crimes against children would face dramatically harsher penalties, up to and including execution. Currently, the maximum sentence for these offenses is life in prison; this bill would add the death penalty as a possible punishment for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, and abusive sexual contact involving children.
The bill also amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to authorize the death penalty for the offense of rape of a child under military law. Active-duty service members convicted of this crime under Article 120b would face potential execution, a significant escalation from current military sentencing options for this offense.
Policies
News
GOP Rep Nancy Mace introduces 'Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act'
Death penalty would expand under new bill
Political Response
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