Enhanced Punishment for Parents Who Murder Their Children

Little Aaron was only 11 weeks old when he was savagely murdered by his father.  There is no doubt that his father visciously killed this infant.  The father was given a prison term of 15 years.

The judge does not want to take all hope from this murderer.  There is no hope for Aaron or the other 1500 american children killed each year by those responsible for their care.

Aaron is gone but he is not forgotten.  He endured a   horrible death and leaves behind a loving and grieving family.

There are 1500 children in the USA murdered by parents/caregivers every year.  The very people entrusted to love, nurture and protect are killing these babies.  This needs to stop.  Let us send a clear message that there is no excuse and enforce an even harsher punishment.. 

Wisconsin SB22 will do just that.  It is a bill for enhanced punishment when a child is murdered by parents/caregiver.  The proposed bill is listed below.

Murder is not an accident or a mistake, murder is murder.

We the undersigned call upon the legislators of Wisconsin to passed SB 22 for enhanced punishment for parents who murder their children.

Below is a statement from the grandparents of little Aaron, who was brutally murdered by his father when he was only 11 weeks old.  An 11 week old infant is totally helpless, cannot even roll over.  Aaron was totally at the mercy of his father and his father gave him no mercy and no comfort.  Aaron's cry for comfort was met with brutal blows which killed him.

Statement from the Grandparents of Aaron Michael Roberts 2/13/09

Senate Bill 22 is now before the Wisconsin State Senate Judiciary Committee. This Bill allows ALL Citizens of Wisconsin to speak loudly for those who cannot.  Aaron Michael Roberts could not shout out for help as he lay defenseless in his crib the day he was beaten to death. We ask the People of this State to help us assist all those too small to speak. Unite with us to send a clear message that we will not tolerate the abuse and murdering of our Children and Grandchildren by the ones we are suppose to trust the most, by the ones who can only explain their actions by saying   I just lost it or I didn't know. Adding this tool to the Law Enforcements & District Attorneys arsenal will hopefully give those who have the potential to harm our children a moment's pause, a pause long enough to save a Child life.

My wife and I want to be clear that any and all crimes against a child are particularly horrendous and when committed by one who is entrusted to care for our children it becomes even more reprehensible; a parent/caregiver should receive an enhanced penalty.  Parents have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard and nurture their children, not abuse or murder them. There are 1500 children in the USA murdered by parents/caregivers every year, we are sickened by the almost daily news.., reporting that yet another child has fallen victim to abuse and death by the one they look to for protection and guidance. 

Thanks to Senator Erpenbach and his staff this bill is a reality and we encourage everyone to participate in the Public Hearing when announced and most importantly to contact their Legislators and insist on support to pass Senate Bill-22 into law. 

Aaron Michael Roberts died 1 year ago today (2/13/08) and was never given the opportunity to speak and so we must speak for him and for all those who still cannot.  Do this for all children of such horrible crimes. 

Grandma & Grandpa Farrell

Please do the right thing and passed this legislation 

LRB%u22120564/1 CMH:bjk:rs 2009 %u2212 2010 LEGISLATURE 2009 SENATE BILL 22 January 30, 2009 %u2212 Introduced by Senator ERPENBACH, by request of Mike and Lori Farrell of Waunakee, in honor and remembrance of the life and death of their grandson Aaron Michael. Referred to Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing. AN ACT to amend 973.01 (2) (c) 2. a.; and to create 939.640 of the statutes; relating to: reckless homicide of a child by a parent or caregiver and providing a penalty. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, if an individual is convicted of a crime, the court has discretion in determining the length of any sentence that it imposes and, if the person is sentenced to prison, how much of the sentence is to be served in prison (the term of confinement) and how much is to be served in the community (the term of extended supervision). The court%u2019s discretion, however, is limited by statutes that set maximum penalties for crimes. For instance, for the crime of first%u2212degree reckless homicide, the maximum term of confinement is either 40 years, for causing a death under circumstances that show utter disregard for human life, or 25 years, for causing a death by manufacturing, distributing, delivering, or administering a controlled substance and, for the crime of second%u2212degree reckless homicide, the maximum term of confinement is 15 years. Under this bill, an individual who is convicted of first%u2212degree or second%u2212degree reckless homicide is subject to a penalty enhancer if the victim of the reckless homicide is a child who is not older than five years of age and the convicted individual is a parent or caregiver of that child. The penalty enhancer varies based on the age of the victim: if the victim is under the age of one year, the maximum term of confinement is increased by 20 years; if the victim is at least one year old but younger than three years old, the maximum term of confinement is increased by ten years; 1 2 3 2009 %u2212 2010 Legislature %u2212 2 %u2212 LRB%u22120564/1 CMH:bjk:rs SENATE BILL 22 and if the victim is at least three years old but not older than five years old, the maximum term of confinement is increased by five years. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. 939.640 of the statutes is created to read: 939.640 Increased penalty for reckless homicide of a child. (1) In this section, %u201Ccaregiver%u201D means, with respect to the child who is the victim of a violation of s. 940.02 or 940.06: (a) The child%u2019s parent, grandparent, greatgrandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister. (b) The child%u2019s guardian. (c) The child%u2019s legal custodian. (d) A person who resides or has resided regularly or intermittently in the same dwelling as the child. (e) An employee of a residential facility or residential care center for children and youth in which the child was or is placed. (f) A person who provides or has provided care for the child in or outside of the child%u2019s home. (g) Any other person who exercises or has exercised temporary or permanent control over the child or who temporarily or permanently supervises or has supervised the child. (h) Any relative of the child other than a relative specified in par. (a). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 2009 %u2212 2010 Legislature %u2212 3 %u2212 LRB%u22120564/1 CMH:bjk:rs SENATE BILL 22 SECTION 1 (2) If an individual commits a violation of s. 940.02 or 940.06 and the individual is a caregiver with respect to the victim, the maximum term of imprisonment for that violation may be increased as follows: (a) If the victim is under one year old, 20 years. (b) If the victim is at least one year old but less than 3 years old, 10 years. (c) If the victim is at least 3 years old but no more than 5 years old, 5 years. SECTION 2. 973.01 (2) (c) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read: 973.01 (2) (c) 2. a. Sections 939.621, 939.632, 939.640, 939.645, 946.42 (4), 961.46, and 961.49. SECTION 3.0Initial applicability. (1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection. (END)