Hi Everyone,

Our children deserve absolute protection from sexual predators. Right now, our justice system is failing them. Too often, those who commit horrific crimes against children receive light sentences, early releases, or minimal consequences — leaving victims traumatized and communities at risk.

We, the undersigned, demand meaningful reform. If someone is convicted of sexually assaulting or exploiting a child, the minimum sentence must be life in prison without parole. In the most egregious cases, the death penalty should be available.

Life sentences for these offenders would send a powerful message of zero tolerance, one that resonates with the gravity of the crime. It would affirm our society's commitment to truly protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

This is not about revenge — it is about justice, deterrence, and protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. Current laws allow predators to return to our streets long before their victims have begun healing, perpetuating fear and enabling further harm.

Real Examples of a Broken System:

At just 14 years old, Daisy Coleman was sexually assaulted and left for dead in freezing conditions. Her perpetrator received only a misdemeanor conviction and a shockingly lenient sentence, zero jail time. Due to the justice system failing her, Daisy later committed suicide. Four months after that, her mother Melinda also committed suicide. Their story highlights how inadequate justice devastates families and communities.

 

Former Rochester police officer Shawn Jordan pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl but was sentenced to just 10 weekends in jail plus probation. Cases like this send a dangerous message: the consequences for destroying a child’s life are minimal.

 

These are not isolated incidents. Light sentences fail to deter offenders and undermine public trust in the justice system. We cannot continue tolerating a system that protects predators more than it protects children.

Turning to some statistics, according to the FBI, crimes against children have seen an increase in various regions, despite efforts to curb them. Furthermore, Childhelp, a national nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, reports that over 3.6 million child abuse cases are reported annually in the United States. These numbers are a call to action.

Our Demands:

Establish life imprisonment without parole as the minimum sentence for convictions involving the sexual assault, rape, or severe exploitation of a minor.

Make the death penalty available for the most heinous cases (e.g., involving murder, repeated offenses, or extreme violence).

Eliminate early releases, plea deals that minimize charges, and overly lenient sentencing guidelines in child sexual abuse cases.

Require mandatory lifetime supervision and public registration for all convicted child sex offenders.

To those who say predators can change: The risk is too great, and the harm too irreversible. Rehabilitation may be a discussion for the future, but right now we face an immediate crisis. We must prioritize the safety of our children over the comfort of predators. We must draw a clear line — certain crimes forfeit the right to walk freely among us ever again.

This petition is our united voice. It shows mayors, city councils, state legislators, and Congress that citizens demand real change. Numbers alone don’t matter — resolve does.

 

Together, we declare: We will not tolerate, accept, or excuse the sexual abuse of children.

 

The time for action is now. Please sign this petition today and share it widely. We also invite you to support our fundraising efforts to help victims, advocate for legislative change, and push this message forward.

Thank you for standing with us to protect our children and restore justice.

The Innocence Protection Project & Partners