Louise Slaughter: “The serial rapists' crimes are vicious. The sentence is short. The average rape sentence is just 10.5 years; and the…”

“The serial rapists' crimes are vicious. The sentence is short. The average rape sentence is just 10.5 years; and the average time served in jail is only half of that, 5 years. The Department of Justice statistics show that 60 percent of convicted sex offenders are on parole or probation. Moreover, preliminary data shows that the recidivism rates of sex offenders are astonishingly high. Released rapists are 10 times more likely to repeat their crime than any other criminal. We all share a conviction that no man, woman, or child should have to live in fear of serial rapists or habitual child molesters. Honest citizens should be able to walk safely into their garages at night. I urge my colleagues' support of this amendment.”