What do I need to do to have a law passed ?

Question

In June of 2002 my 14 month-old niece Jasmine Mitchell of Chicago Illinois was murdered by her DCFS licensed baby-sitter, Versie Ramirez-Carr received 15 years for second degree murder and has recently been released 09/27/2007. Now correct me if I'm wrong but she didn't even serve 1/2 of her sentence. This woman had a previous record, probation violations, gun charges and drug charges on her record when she was licensed by the Dept. of Children and Family Services. Now If my sister had known the type of person she was there is no way in hell my niece would have been placed in her care. I want to enact a bill like the amber alert which places her on some kind of offender list, she still has her daycare license through the state of Illinois, who is to say that another child won't be murdered at her hands. I know we cannot bring back Jasmine but our intention is to let her deed be known to everyone, we don't want another family to suffer the as we have. Can anyone offer assistance?

Answer 1

Since a law like that would be a state law, you should start with your state legislature. Find the representative that represents your area and talk with them. Explain the circumstances and what you hope can be done.

Answer 2

It would be unconstitional to pass such a law.

Read "Teh Scarlett Letter" to learn about a principle that is crucial in American jurisprudnece. And a good story too :)

I am sorry about your niece, really I am.

But the murderer is out on parole and subject to strict control. If she so much as sneezes the wrogn way she will be back in jail serving the rest of her term.

We don't know the specifics of your case, but in general....

People are paroled early for good behavior, but also due to overcrowding in prisons.

If you want them to stay longer, the reducing the issue of overcrowding is the way to go.

that means either have less criminals ina better society with the amount of prisons we have now (Not llikely I know!)

or,

Build more prisons so they are not over crowded.

Ove rthe last 20 yars we have been building prisons at a prodigious rate, and they are still overcrowed. so that is nto exactly working either.

Still, her prosion was probably overcrowded, and there are laws to resolve overcrowding issues. It may be that in your case, your prisoner was the LEAST problematic of those who were cose to being able to be paroled. Maybe the others were even worse people. Surely all the others were there because of cases that were as tragic to the ffmailies involved as yours, right?

I don't mean to minimize your loss, but do realize that there is a system for a reason, and that if you think it through rationally as I have outlined, you will see there is not really anything a specific law can do without having a domino effect.

So I say it is fine to try to create a law, but if you want a law, you have to propose exactly what it is you want, and then persuade folks that the consequences of the law are both manageable and more desirable then not passing the law.

Unlikely, as I stated at the beginning, that a public registry would meet those conditions, frankly I think the Sex Offender lists are an abomination, and will eventually be found unconstitutional. But not before lives are destroyed.

Good luck!

Answer 3

the conviction of her record for murder should be a public matter / get copies of it .

take the copies to the DCFS licensing daycare agency

the should be able to pull that license

the problem is that there is so much unlicensed daycare going on . unlicesned charge less . parents barely have time to call references or references are faked ... let alone check out licenses. people show a license and it is assumed it is vaild. More education of pubic would be helpful .. how would an everyday working person best pick a babysitter ? how do you know who you can trust ?

I apologize I don't know any answers.

keep fighting for Jasmine and all the children like her !

Answer 4

You will need to contact your Governor and the Legislature about this. There will need to be a lot of follow-up so you will probably need an army of volunteers, which you can recruit by putting all the facts on a web site, and issuing press releases to the media. You will need a name for your effort that is easy for people to remember. You could name it after your lost niece. You may want to discuss this with your sister first, since the news media frenzy might not be something she welcomes.

Check the C-Span schedule for replaying hearings. ... The Education & labor committee of the US House of Representatives www.edworkforce.house.gov is holding hearings called "Child Abuse at Private displanary facilities" which is an understatement ... thousands of American children are dying (for profit) at Nazi death march camps in US states ... they get in trouble & they move to another state under another name & open up shop again, until more trouble ... 50 states to go. The personnel at these places cannot tell the difference between a medical problem and a discipline problem, which is how come so many kids get killed.

Answer 5

Before you worry about passing some law why don't you go after her license. Demand from DCFS an answer as to how she is able to continue doing business with the charges she was convicted of and a criminal history like you've listed.

Get her out of business first and then get you law passed.

Answer 6

I am so sorry for your loss. You and your sister should begin a grassroots campaign to require all applicants to be child care providers in your state inform the licensing agency of any prior criminal charges and/or convictions. Before approaching anyone formally, I would enlist the support of churches and community organizations and ask for volunteers to help you. Then approach your state congresspersons and ask that they sponsor a bill that would do just that. It is good to see that you are trying to have something positive come out of this tragedy. My prayers are with you.

Answer 7

Write a Letter to your President about the issue, I'm sure he'll help you.

Answer 8

write a letter to your representative and have a petition go around

the more signatures, the more he is prone to take your suggestion to heart

if he doesn't at least consider it, than he is not doing his job.

good luck