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Committee hears bill to require magistrates to consider prior sex‑offense convictions when setting bond
Summary
House Bill 2389 would require magistrates to consider prior convictions for enumerated sexual offenses or comparable out‑of‑state convictions when setting appearance bonds and release conditions; proponents including a victim and the Johnson County district attorney said the change would better protect public safety.
House Bill 2389, introduced by Rep. Essex on behalf of Rep. Williams, drew emotional proponent testimony Wednesday as the House Committee on Judiciary considered whether judges should be required to consider prior convictions for certain sexual and violent offenses when setting bond.
Jason Thompson of the Revisor's Office told the committee HB 2389 adds a new subsection (p) to the bond statute that directs the magistrate, when a defendant is charged with enumerated offenses such as aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a child, and related crimes, to consider prior convictions of the same or similar offenses, including…
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