Top Colorado Democrats Seek Sex Offender Criminal Review
DENVER (AP) - Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and top Democrats in the Legislature are seeking a panel review of state sex offender laws after criticism from Republicans that current penalties need an update.
In a letter released Wednesday, the governor and lawmakers ask the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to review state law. The GOP wants to see Colorado approve mandatory life sentences with no possibility of parole for 25 years for adults convicted of certain sex crimes against children younger than 14.
Democrats have resisted, saying Colorado's current law is adequate. Victims' rights groups and the state prosecutors have agreed.
However, conservatives continued their push. Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has blasted Colorado's ruling Democrats for resisting a Colorado version of a sentencing requirement known as Jessica's Law.
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