Quinn Signs ‘Rebecca’s Law’ Stiffening Penalties For Torturers

[Drale]

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) — Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation that will toughen the penalties for abusers who torture their victims, after a man who brutally tortured his wife ended up being sentenced to just 4 1/2 years in prison.

Quinn signed the legislation known as Rebecca’s Law over the weekend. The bill was drafted by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, and named after Rebecca Mercado of Joliet, who was beaten and tortured by her husband.

Over two days in July 2009, Mercado was held hostage in her own home by her then-husband, and beaten repeatedly with a metal broom and a piece of wood until she passed out. Her husband was convicted, but sentenced to just 4 1/2 years behind bars, which was nearly the maximum allowed at the time, according to Glasgow’s office.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/22/quinn-signs-rebeccas-law-stiffening-penalties-for-torturers/

[TheWraith]

1. Truth be told, I suspect that this guy will be amply rewarded for his crime.

The hierarchy in prison looks down on people who abuse women and children. He's probably going to be on the end of more than a little torture himself over the next few years.

[saras]

2. Too bad it doesn't apply upstairs...

...but upstairs and downstairs always have their separate sets of laws.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. So, if you locked up and beat your neighbor for a weekend, what would...

the penalty be?

(Probably a lot more than 5 years.)