Sen. Jim Moylan has introduced a package of legislation to help address the onslaught of criminal activity recently. The following is from a news release from his office:
With criminal activity continuing to rise and public safety agencies needing additional support, Senator James Moylan will be introducing several pieces of legislation today under the “Let’s Get Guam Safe” Initiatives. The intent is to focus on an array of issues at this point, and to continue to engage in discussions with stakeholders to introduce additional measures in the coming weeks.
Some of these measures were introduced by Senator Moylan in the previous term and have been modified to relate to the present state of public safety. The legislation being introduced this morning include:
1. Mandating Electronic Monitoring Devices for Sex Offenders who are being released on probation or parole.
2. Increasing the minimum sentence of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct from 15 years to 25 years, and establishing minimum sentences for Second, Third, and Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.
3. Establishing penalties for those who serve or sell alcohol to minors, and mandating community service for those minors caught possessing or consuming alcohol. Language is included to hold parents and legal guardians more responsible.
4. Establishing penalties for those minors convicted of crimes including riots, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, loitering, and obstruction, and including language to hold parents and legal guardians more responsible.
5. Enhancing language in GPD’s volunteer program to encourage more island residents, particularly Neighborhood Watch Programs, to get involved with citing violators for littering and smoking laws.
6. Creating incentives to attract retired police, corrections, and customs officers in temporary positions to help address gaps with limited manpower.
“Criminal activity is increasing, and our law enforcement agencies need some support. Likewise, we need to send out stronger messages when it comes to certain crimes such as criminal sexual conduct, that if one commits the crime, the punishment, even with a plea deal, will be severe. One of the measures being introduced would mandate that a sex offender on probation or parole have a monitoring device placed during this period. At some point we need to say that enough is enough”, stated Senator Moylan. “Since we are also seeing an increase in illicit activity from juveniles, it is vital to place some teeth into certain laws and assure that in some cases the parents have to share a role with fines. If we are going to address community problems, we need the community’s cooperation, and this includes taking a no- nonsense approach”, added Senator Moylan.
These measures complement other pieces of legislation Senator Moylan has introduced this term to address public safety, inclusive, but not limited to, the amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Act to mandate annual training cycles for GPD, CQA, DOC, and GFD, as well as a proposal to fund the A&E for Customs Screening Facility at the port, to jump start the much- needed facility which would greatly reduce the importation of illicit drugs at the port.
“Addressing public safety woes unfortunately does not have a single or simple solution, hence we need to look at things holistically. On one end we need to create more stringent penalties, but we also need to increase our manpower. Therefore, one of the measures being introduced would incentivize bringing in retired police, corrections, and customs officers on a temporary basis. Another measure enhances the Volunteer program at GPD, which we hope would attract more members of NWP’s to participate”, stated Senator Moylan. “This is just a start, and we look forward to more engagement in the process with stakeholders, including town halls. The community can also reach our office and share their recommendations. After all, our objectives are consistent, in that we need to take back our villages and neighborhoods from criminals. Let’s Get Guam Safe”, added Senator Moylan.
