NM Gov. Martinez Urging Stronger Child Abuse Laws

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Gov. Susana Martinez is urging lawmakers to lengthen prison time for child abusers and drunk drivers who kill children.

The governor announced Tuesday that her new proposal would increase penalties for child abusers from three years to nine years. Under her plan, repeat offenders would face up to 18 years in jail, instead of only nine years.

Her plan would also extend “Baby Brianna law “by allowing life in prison for someone who kills a child.

Martinez’s proposal also defines new crimes in the cases where a child is “groomed” by a predator, and when somebody exposes themselves to a child in a private setting. Currently, neither are crimes.

Martinez, a former prosecutor, said before the session that she wanted to strengthen child safety laws.

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