Missouri will not ease up on former convicts who committed sex crimes when they were juveniles, and state lawmakers are getting praise for the decision in some law enforcement circles.
In the legislature, there was enough concern about the bill passed during the regular session that it was never even brought up for a vote in this week’s special session to consider the governor’s vetoes.
This was one that got Governor Jay Nixon’s red stamp.
The bill would have set aside public notification by sex offender websites of nearly 900 people who were underage when they committed sex offenses.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker had joined Gov. Nixon’s opposition to the bill las month.
"This bill came together in the last hours of session, so I don’t know there was any real consultation," says Baker. "Certainly I can’t imagine that a prosecutor, any prosecutor, no matter where you come from, would think this was a good idea."
Legislators who initially supported the bill had said people who committed crimes under age 18 should have a second chance for a private life.
With a sustained veto, the measure is dead.