It's a start, but it doesn't go far enough

As reported here, the Washington House has passed tougher sexual predator laws, mandating a minimum 25 years sentence; the bills now go to the State Senate.

"But not everybody was happy. As he promised, victims advocate Jim Hines, a Gig Harbor candy salesman, visited the Secretary of State's Office an hour later to file a citizens initiative for tougher sentencing guidelines. "I'm done down here. I'm going to take this to the people," said Hines, who has been working with the Legislature on tougher sentencing laws the past few years.
Hines wants to make someone convicted of rape of a child older (sic - younger, not older) than 14 ineligible for the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative. He also wants to tighten the definition of family to exclude close acquaintances, such as boyfriends or other non-relatives who have spent substantial time with the victim, from qualifying for an alternative sentence.

The sentencing alternative is generally reserved for family members and other perpetrators who know their victims, are first-time offenders or whose crimes are non-violent. The bill passed Wednesday would cut out SSOSA eligibility for coaches, teachers, pastors and other authority figures.

Hines and Republicans have argued since the beginning of the session that SSOSA is overused by prosecutors and judges, resulting in sentences for dangerous predators that are counted in months, rather than years."

While the 25 year mandatory sentence for strangers who perpetrate sexual assault is good, I think that stiffer penalties should be in place for close acquaintances, and especially for family members - the people you should be able to trust! - such as life, without the possibility of parole, even if it is a first time offense, as those are the very people who commit the vast majority of sexual assaults.

As for the "non-violent" aspect of sexual assault goes, someone doesn't know what they are talking about. Any form of sexual assault is violent, whether physical abuse (such as being beaten or tortured) occurs or not. The very nature of the term "sexual assault" carries the connotation of violence, whether the assault involved penetration or not. If you don't believe me, just ask any victim of sexual assault.