Local senator seeks tougher penalties for child abusers
A lawmaker from Boardman is hoping the Ohio Senate passes legislation to mandate longer prison sentences for those who harm children.
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), along with Democrat Senator Lou Gentile, from Steubenville, introduced legislation that would strengthen the penalties for individuals found guilty of purposefully causing harm to a child under the age of 13.
According to a press release, Senate Bill 178 aims to impose an additional mandatory prison term of one to five years.
"Any case concerning children's safety deserves priority consideration," said Senator Schiavoni. "State legislators need to take up this issue and make changes to the Revised Code to establish stricter penalties for adults who commit serious, violent crimes against children."
The release says that lawmakers worked with judges and local prosecutors to draft the legislation.
According to the release, the Senators hope to strike a balance between maintaining judicial discretion and imposing tougher penalties on individuals who harm defenseless children.
Current law authorizes a minimum sentence of two to three years in prison, depending on the degree of assault.
According to a release, Senate Bill 178 would impose an additional mandatory prison term of one to five years.
Convicted child abusers would then spend anywhere from three to eight years in prison, with judges deciding the length of sentences within that range.
