2012.02.10
Senate approves new penalty for failing to report missing children
The state Senate today unanimously passed a bill that would impose a criminal penalty on a parent or guardian who fails to promptly report a missing child.
The bill (SB 66) was triggered in part by the 2008 disappearance and death of Caylee Anthony, a two-year old Florida girl whose remains were found months after her disappearance. The toddler had been missing for weeks before authorities were notified of her disappearance. Her mother, Casey Anthony, was convicted last year on misdemeanor charges of providing false information to police, but was acquitted of murder and child abuse charges.
Under the bill introduced by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, a parent or guardian could face a felony charge if they fail to report a missing child younger than 12 years old within “a reasonable time.” The offense would carry a maximum prison term of five years.
The original version of Stanley’s bill set a 12-hour time limit for reporting a missing child case to authorities, but the Senate Courts of Justice Committee amended that provision.
The committee also deleted a provision in the original bill that would have imposed a criminal penalty against a parent or guardian for falsely reporting the circumstances of a serious injury to a child. Committee members determined said other criminal charges, such as obstruction of justice, would apply to such situations.
– Michael Sluss
No end to the laws these authoritarians want to impose. Every day, at every level govt. proves to be our greatest enemy.
Comment by Jack Mcguire — February 10, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
Absolutely. And look at this latest anti- drunk driving law bill worming it’s way into law, requiring interlock devices at $80.00 per mo. for first offender DWIs. You can bet that Biff and Muffy won’t be be going through any of this, being buddies with their country club pals, the judges and lawyers, but old Billy Bob, who gets stopped one Friday night by 6 Roanoke County cops after having two beers at the ballpark, will be shaken down for thousands of dollars by the system. What a joke.
Comment by William Lang — February 11, 2012 @ 10:37 am
Well..It might be a good thing to have an “unknown injury” to a child decided in a court of record since it would be a felony which would be heard in an appellate court. Thus eliminating the corruption of the family court of secrecy. Family rights and parental rights are the only fundamental rights unprotected from government interference and attack. If your child goes missing why would you not report it immediately unless you have something to hide.Understand that part. The” obstruction of justice “would just allow Cps to harm children more than they all ready are. I believe most of the world can see that the whole cps system needs a overhaul and the government funding allotted to cps for removing children to foster care needs to change. There is no incentive for cps to keep children with parents.Obstruction of Justice is just one more way for cps and police to unconstitutionally seize children for adoption since their are high government incentives to do so.There is not much government incentive to leave children with their parents. This bill is one of those bills with an ulterior hidden agenda. Who would not approve after all,”Its for the chidren”.Respectfully Sharon
Comment by Sharon york — February 11, 2012 @ 11:51 am
@2 and @3
Both of you nailed it!!
Comment by Jack Mcguire — February 11, 2012 @ 9:23 pm
I agree that the only parents who wouldn’t report their kids missing almost certainly would be responsible for the crime, so what’s the need for a new law?
Comment by KevinL — February 12, 2012 @ 8:35 am
Seriously? What exactly are those “high government incentives” to remove children from their parents?
And why shouldn’t “Billy Bob” have to get the additional equipment after his first DUI? How many chances should he get to kill someone? He already proved he cannot judge his own intake.
As for people with money getting away with what the rest of us don’t. Well if you vote for people who support the idea of a Plutocracy and who write the laws and regulations and who allow the systems to be manipulated by money, what the hell do you expect?
I said this the other day and it is the total truth, we all pay taxes, they pay politicians, so tell me who is gonna get the better deal?
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 12, 2012 @ 4:07 pm