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Calif. Senate OKs Bill Responding To Richmond Rape
RICHMOND (CBS 5 / AP) ―

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Police cars sit parked outside Richmond High School on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Richmond, Calif.

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Witnesses to the murder, rape or lewd acts victimizing a child under 18 would be required to notify police, under a bill approved by the state Senate.

The bill was written in response to the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl outside of a Richmond High School homecoming dance in October. Seven males have been charged in the case, and investigators say as many as 20 people watched without reporting the crime.

The bill by Democratic Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco amends current law, which requires reporting such crimes against victims age 14 and under.

A violation would be a misdemeanor punishable with a $1,500 fine or six months in jail, the same as under the current law.

SB840, passed Monday on a 29-0 vote, without debate. It now goes to the Assembly.


It's interesting to me (and problematic) that this bill involves amending the currently law which requires report to authorities for a minor age 14 and under. Now the law will be to report witnessing a crime against a person under 18. But what about crimes committed against a person over 18?

This law does little to prevent future gang rapes but at least the law should protect all possible victims, not just a portion of them. What do you guys think?