Hatfield secures protections for children from sexual predators

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville) has seen success in his efforts to establish more protections for children from sexual predators.

Indiana House members today approved an amendment authored by Hatfield that would give courts the ability to prohibit certain sex offenders from having contact with juveniles under 16 years of age. The prohibition would affect sexually violent predators who commit sexual offenses against children.

The amendment was included in Senate Bill 258.

“This prohibition would affect offenders while they are on probation,” Hatfield said. “From my time with the Vanderburgh County prosecutor’s office, I have seen the impact of these types of offenses against children and their families, and it seems vital to me that we do everything in our power to keep offenders away from the most innocent in our society.

“Some of these circumstances already are covered under orders that can be issued by judges, but I believe it is important to place these restrictions into state law to cover instances where a child’s life may be in danger,” He concluded.

The proposal reflects Hatfield’s consistent legislative efforts to bring greater awareness to the problems facing victims of crime in Indiana.