CINCINNATI – Senator Eric H. Kearney (D-Cincinnati) introduced Senate Bill 299 preventing incarcerated sex offenders from possessing photographs of their victims.
Senate Bill 299 came about at the request of a constituent who was concerned that the incarcerated attacker of her daughter was in possession of photographs of his victim and there was nothing in the law to prevent him from having such items. Currently the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will only confiscate such photos at the request of the victim or their family.
“Requiring the victim to have knowledge of their attacker possessing photographs is grossly onerous and should not be required for the materials removal,” said Senator Kearny. “When this situation was brought to my attention I could hardly believe it was possible. We need to take action immediately to change the law and prevent these kind of atrocities from happening.”
In addition to prohibiting possession of victim photographs in cases where the offender’s crime involved a child, possession of photographs of minors will also be prohibited. Under Senate Bill 299, possession of such prohibited items will considered an act of aggravated menacing and punishable as a felony.
“I think most people would be very surprised to learn this is allowed under Ohio law, I know I was. But that shouldn’t prevent us from addressing it now” said Senator Kearney. “To provide victims closure and a sense of justice we must ensure these perpetrators are paying for their crime.”
Senator Eric H. Kearney represents parts of Cincinnati, St. Bernard, Elmwood Place, Cleves, Cheviot, Norwood, Golf Manor, Columbia Township, Deer Park, Silverton, Springfield Township, North Bend and Addyston.
Senate Bill 299 came about at the request of a constituent who was concerned that the incarcerated attacker of her daughter was in possession of photographs of his victim and there was nothing in the law to prevent him from having such items. Currently the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will only confiscate such photos at the request of the victim or their family.
“Requiring the victim to have knowledge of their attacker possessing photographs is grossly onerous and should not be required for the materials removal,” said Senator Kearny. “When this situation was brought to my attention I could hardly believe it was possible. We need to take action immediately to change the law and prevent these kind of atrocities from happening.”
In addition to prohibiting possession of victim photographs in cases where the offender’s crime involved a child, possession of photographs of minors will also be prohibited. Under Senate Bill 299, possession of such prohibited items will considered an act of aggravated menacing and punishable as a felony.
“I think most people would be very surprised to learn this is allowed under Ohio law, I know I was. But that shouldn’t prevent us from addressing it now” said Senator Kearney. “To provide victims closure and a sense of justice we must ensure these perpetrators are paying for their crime.”
Senator Eric H. Kearney represents parts of Cincinnati, St. Bernard, Elmwood Place, Cleves, Cheviot, Norwood, Golf Manor, Columbia Township, Deer Park, Silverton, Springfield Township, North Bend and Addyston.
