House Committee Advances Capital Offense Bill On Child Sex Crimes
Alabama consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for per capita death sentences and executions. If bills pending in the Alabama House and Senate are passed by their full chambers, another verdict could be added to those with the possibility of execution - rape, sodomy and sexual torture of a child.
One of the most heinous of crimes, state lawmakers say there seems to be a recent increase in sexual crimes committed against children. Most point to the Bibb County sexual torture, rape and trafficking of children in Brent as an example. That case with eight defendants is still to be adjudicated.
After considerable discussion Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee approved its version of a bill the bill that would establish the offense as a capital crime. House Bill 41, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson (R-96), now has advanced to the full house for floor debate.
During the committee discussion, Tuscaloosa Rep. Chris England (D-70) questioned if such a bill might end up have the reverse effect to what is intended. "I just don't think, as a prosecutor for practical terms, having the death penalty on the table in that situation, even as a possibility, will encourage those who have been victimized." he stated.
“Some people need to die,” Simpson said in response. “This is the worst of the worst offenses. These are people who take advantage of children who cannot defend themselves.”
Simpson filed a similar bill that passed the lower chamber last session but failed in the senate. Some senators worried that such a law would violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment by imposing the death sentence for a crime where the victim survived the attack.
Simpson believes any challenge to the Alabama law, if it is passed and signed by Gov. Ivey, can be successfully defended.
A similar bill, Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Bibb County Sen. April Weaver (R-14) is pending in the upper chamber.
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