The Idaho Senate approved two pieces of legislation that could add harsher penalties for those found guilty of abusing children. One proposal would double the maximum sentence for felony abuse to a child from 10 to 20 years. The other would allow the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to not reunite an abusive parent with a child if the child would be placed in foster care. Both votes passed the Senate on a 33-2 vote and now head to the House.
Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said the longer prison sentence for felony child abuse isn’t required, but would be used where necessary. “The current maximum of 10 years has been lamented by judges,” she said. She said the longer possible sentence makes sense. “In my opinion, the punishment would fit the crime.”
Read IdahoReporter.com‘s past coverage of Broadsword’s two changes to child abuse laws here. The text of the higher maximum sentence legislation is available here, and changes to family reunification requirements is available here.
