Issue Position: Public Safety

Issue Position

Public Safety
Law enforcement must have the tools they need to protect our communities. This starts with ensuring they are fairly compensated for putting themselves in harm's way day after day. While no amount of pay is adequately sufficient, during the 2017 Session we provided a significant boost to our State Police along with more modest increases for locally supported officers.

I believe redemption and rehabilitation should be the goal for individuals that commit criminal acts. However, victims of crime cannot be forgotten. I support out truth in sentencing laws, as they ensure individuals that commit serious crimes do not get a simple slap on the wrist for their offense. During my service, I have patroned several measures to protect victims and make our communities a safer place to live. Among these are initiatives to expand the Address Confidentiality Program which helps protect victims of domestic violence and the creation of a presumption against granting bail for defendants who threaten a witness. I also sponsored legislation that increases the penalty for soliciting a minor for prostitution, straightened our texting while driving laws, and ensure defendants that commit heinous crimes post sufficient bond to guarantee they appear in court.

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