Governor Blunt Enacts Legislation to Safeguard Missourians from Internet Harassment

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

June 30, 2008

Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290


OFALLONGov. Matt Blunt today signed Senate Bill 818, which is the result of recommendations made by his Internet Harassment Task Force to protect Missourians, particularly Missouri children, from Internet stalking and harassment in the wake of the terrible tragedy of Megan Meiers death.

"We must take every step possible to protect our youth and to punish those who want to bring them harm," Gov. Blunt said. "Social networking sites and technology have opened a new door for criminals and bullies to prey on their victims, especially children. This new law will ensure that we have the protections and penalties needed to safeguard Missourians from Internet harassment."

The bill clarifies the crime of harassment to include communications by any means, including over the Internet. It also expands the crime of stalking to include any course of conduct with two or more acts over a period of time that is communicated by any means. Additionally, the bill requires school boards to have a written policy requiring school administrators to report crimes of harassment and stalking committed on school property to law enforcement.

"Missouri is committed to protecting our citizens in every way possible from this kind of senseless activity by punishing those who engage in it. We want to make it very clear that people who pursue, harass or contact people in these unsolicited ways are going to be held accountable for their heinous actions," said Sen. Scott Rupp, the bills sponsor.

The legislation increases penalties for harassment from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony when committed by an adult over 21 years old to a minor 17 years old or younger or by someone who previously has committed the crime of harassment. It also increases the penalties for stalking and aggravated stalking for subsequent offenses, regardless of when the first offense was committed.

In December Gov. Blunt created the Internet Harassment Task Force to review Missouri laws that relate to stalking, harassment and child endangerment and make recommendations for changes to better protect Missourians from Internet harassment.

Three years ago Missouri was among the first states in the nation to join the AMBER Alert Web Portal to ensure that information can be spread as quickly as possible when a child is abducted. Blunt also has promoted the INOBTR (I Know Better) Campaign to provide information about online predators and intends to sign legislation this year requiring registered sex offenders to provide e-mail addresses and other online identifiers to authorities. The governor instituted the Missouri Alert Network to enhance school safety and supported funding for cyber crime grants to assist law enforcement in investigating dangerous Internet crimes, especially sex crimes exploiting children.

Gov. Blunt has been a national leader in protecting children from sexual predators. He enacted Missouris version of Jessicas Law, an action that mandates a life sentence with at least 30 years served for predators who commit egregious crimes against young children. Additionally, Blunt made Missouri one of the first states in the nation to mandate lifetime GPS monitoring for sex offenders who prey on young victims.