Shrewsbury state reps' sex offender bill on the move

SHREWSBURY

State Rep. Karyn Polito's bill to set mandatory minimum sentences for child rapists had a recent public hearing before the Judiciary Committee and could move forward in the legislative process before the end of the year, lawmakers said.

Polito, a Republican from Shrewsbury, is also pushing for minimum sentences for child pornography crimes and for "predator free" zones around schools and day care centers. Opponents say such measures don't work and can be counter-productive.

Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Sen. Robert Creedon, a Democrat of Brockton, told the State House News Service after the hearing that the committee plans to get portions of the sex offender bill "out by the end of the year."

-- Lisa Kocian