TOPEKA – (December 9, 2021) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt today urged the American Law Institute (ALI) to reject proposed changes to the Model Penal Code that would weaken the ability of states to prosecute sexual assault, abuse, exploitation, and trafficking crimes; jeopardize the safety of victims of these crimes; and restrict the ability of law enforcement to protect the general public from recidivist behavior.

Schmidt joined 36 other attorneys general in sending a letter to ALI, arguing that the proposed changes would erode progress made across the country to protect vulnerable citizens, especially children, and to hold those who commit sex crimes accountable.

“As attorneys general, we urge the ALI to consider the danger the proposed changes would pose to the public, especially children, and abandon its plans to amend this article of the Model Penal Code …,” the attorneys general wrote. “The revisions contemplated fail to treat sex predators appropriately and would provide them more freedom to commit these heinous crimes, putting the citizens we represent at greater risk of becoming victims.”

Schmidt said the changes would favor bad actors by making laws and registration requirements far more lenient, limiting the public’s ability to protect communities and prevent abuse and exploitation. The changes also would diminish efforts to protect children from becoming victims of sex predators through the Internet.

A copy of the letter to ALI can be found at https://bit.ly/33hnHyb.