Amy P. Weirich,
District Attorney General
July 6, 2011
In the last several months, my office has been pursuing the guilty and protecting the innocent in many ways. One area is by pushing for tougher legislation. Several new laws went into effect last week (or will in the coming months) that make our community safer.
- In the war on drugs, law enforcement will have quicker access to pharmacy databases, allowing them to get meth makers and prescription drug sellers off the streets sooner.
- Additionally, combining the war on drugs with our responsibility to protect our children, tougher sentencing is available for those who manufacture meth in the presence of children.
- On the roads, those stopped for suspected DUI with prior DUIs or vehicular homicides will not be allowed to refuse a blood test. If you have a child in the car, you have no right to refuse. Third and fourth DUI offenders will have their license suspended for 6 or 8 years respectively.
- Those convicted of child rape, will face nothing less than 25 years at 100% up to 60 years depending on the defendant’s record.
- We have tougher sentencing options for those convicted of drive-by shootings and those parents/guardians guilty of “educational neglect”, i.e., not getting their children to school.
- Juveniles ages 14-18 convicted of certain violent sexual offenses and found to be at high risk for re-offending, will be placed on a sex offender registry.
These are just some of the laws enacted. A complete listing of the new legislation is available here from the General Assembly website.
I am honored to serve as your District Attorney and promise you that my office will continue to pursue those whose mission it is to weaken our community.
Sincerely,
Amy P. Weirich
District Attorney General