LANSING, Mich. — In an effort to combat the increasing menace of online sextortion, especially among minors, Michigan legislators have introduced a legislative package known as Jordan D’s Law, memorializing a teenage victim of this heinous crime. The law seeks to hold perpetrators accountable and ramp up preventive education against such online threats.
The bills introduced by State Reps. John Fitzgerald, Kara Hope, and Jenn Hill are crafted in response to the tragic death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, who took his own life in 2022 after becoming a victim of sextortion. This crime involves threatening to publish private, often sexually explicit, materials to coerce actions from the victim.
House Bill 5887 aims to set strict penalties for those found guilty of threatening to release sexual content to force victims into undesired actions. The subsequent bill, HB 5888, defines clear sentencing guidelines for those convicted of sexual extortion and its more severe form, aggravated sexual extortion. HB 5889 focuses on the educational aspect, mandating local schools, in coordination with the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan State Police, and the attorney general’s office, to formulate and implement instructional policies concerning sextortion.
Highlighting the urgency of the legislative action, Fitzgerald pointed to a significant surge in sextortion cases reported by the FBI, a tenfold increase since 2021, affecting thousands of youths across the nation. “The alarming rise in sextortion cases demands immediate action. We must act now to protect our children and hold predators accountable to prevent further tragedies,” Fitzgerald remarked.
Hope emphasized the dual aspects of prosecution and deterrence encapsulated in the bills. “This legislation provides the necessary tools to prosecute these heinous crimes and send a clear message that Michigan will not tolerate the exploitation of children,” she stated.
Hill underscored the importance of proactive education in mitigating risks posed by online predators. “Education is key to prevention. By involving our schools and law enforcement agencies, we can raise awareness and equip people with the knowledge to stay safe online,” she mentioned.
The mere introduction of Jordan D’s Law has been met with hopeful approval from affected families seeking to shield other children from similar fates. John DeMay, Jordan’s father, expressed his family’s endorsement. “The DeMay family is honored and pleased to see Michigan legislators bring our collaborative legislation to the table. This law represents a stand against the online harms that our youth face and serves as a foundational effort to push for robust legislation including tougher criminal sanctions, awareness campaigns, and accountability for tech companies,” he said.
While this legislation is a local move within Michigan, it reflects a growing understanding and legislative trend across the United States aimed at protecting minors from the dangers lurking behind screens. Other states are encouraged to consider similar laws, reflecting a unified front against this twisted form of modern cybercrime.
The representatives of the law urge swift passage and adoption, stressing the critical necessity of legislative backing to effectively combat and reduce incidents of sextortion, preserving the well-being and innocence of children in this digital age.