TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--Sex offenders and predators may have to spend more time in jail before they're released. Florida's new "Brittany's law," requires a judge to determine whether offenders are dangerous prior to releasing them into the community before their first court appearance.
"If this law had been put in place years ago one other murder would've been prevented," said Dritt.
Jennifer Dritt, the executive director of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence says after hearing a number of tragic stories involving sex offenders, she's pleased the new "Brittany's law" will go into effect.
"Every assault and murder of a child, I would assume is a sexual motivated offense is horrible," said Dritt.
The law is named after a 17-year old Brittany Carleo was murdered in Port St. Lucie in 2006 by a 42-year-old sex offender who bonded out after being arrested.
Prosecutor Jack Campbell says the law would keep some of them behind bars under certain circumstances.
"They're going to allow our prosecutors and opportunity every time their arrested to take a look at that individual and make a determination of what we need to do to protect the public from this person," said Campbell.
It also requires a judge to determine whether they're dangerous prior to releasing them into the community before their first court appearance.
Campbell says it'll help them prosecute more cases and keep those in jail who need to remain behind bars.
"We want to be involved we want an opportunity to be heard so that we can speak up saying this person has a history of being dangerous in sexually motivated crimes," said Campbell.
A recent case in Jacksonville where an 8-year old girl was allegedly killed by sex offender who had just been released 3 weeks prior, for that Dritt says this law is much needed.
"There continues to be people who are going do these things and we can't ensure that people don't want to do these things, but we can do is make our best effort to ensure that their not out on the streets," said Dritt.
The law takes effect on July 1st.
