I am a parent to a sweet daughter and it shatters my heart to imagine that, today, she might not be as safe as she deserves in the state we call home, New Mexico. Why? Because sex offenders, even first-timers, are strolling our streets with trivial sentences. According to the Department of Justice, repeat offenses are common due to lenient sentencing. In fact, a study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that within 3 years of release, about 5.3% of sex offenders were rearrested for a sex crime. We need to change this. To ensure the safety of our children and loved ones, we urgently need to revisit and reform the laws surrounding first-time sex offenses. We need stricter, more substantial consequences that serve as a genuine deterrent, reinforcing that such behavior is unacceptable, intolerable. Our children, families, and communities in New Mexico deserve safety and peace of mind. Demand more stringent punishments for first-time sex offenders today. Join me in signing this petition.