March Update from Dr. Bains' Office

Bill to triple sentencing for child torture advances

One of my key initiatives this year is a significant step toward strengthening protections for children. The Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously approved my bill AB 1094, which nearly triples the penalty against criminals convicted of torturing a child.

I put forward this bill after learning that the penalty for torturing a child can be as little as 7 years in prison. My proposal increases the minimum penalty to a minimum of 20 years with the possibility of life in prison. This increase in penalty recognizes the particularly egregious nature of child torture and the profound, lasting harm inflicted upon young victims.

Public Safety Champion from Kern Law Enforcement Association

Thank you to the Kern Law Enforcement Association for recognizing me as a Public Safety Champion for my work on AB 1094. I am committed to continuing the fight for victims, survivors, and public safety

Doctor's Note: National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and for this month's Doctor’s Note, I want to share some resources about understanding and preventing child abuse.

Preventing child abuse and neglect involves recognizing and addressing the risk factors that increase the likelihood of violence, as well as strengthening the protective factors that help keep children safe.

Child abuse and neglect encompass physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, “at least one in seven children experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States.”

For more resources about recognizing and understanding child abuse, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/child-abuse-neglect/about/index.html

In Good Health,

Dr. Jasmeet Bains
Assemblymember, 35th District