Baker Bill to Strengthen Prosecution of Child Sex Offenders Gains Senate Approval 

(HARRISBURG) Legislation sponsored by Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) would give the Attorney General stronger tools to prosecute child sexual abuse cases that may cross county or state lines.  The state Senate approved the bill today by a vote of 49-0.  

Baker said there is a hole in the law that has made it more difficult to prosecute sexual offenders who use the Internet to contact minors for sexual purposes.   

Baker's legislation would give the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with county district attorneys to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for the sexual abuse of children when involving more than one county or a county and another state. 

"When cases of sexual abuse of children cross county lines, it is much more effective to have the Attorney General prosecute those cases.  Children will be better protected if the Attorney General has full powers to prosecute offenders for  photographing, disseminating or possessing child pornography,"  Baker said.