CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec
CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec
CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec
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8.2 Application of anti-cruelty laws<br />
enforCement of state laWs<br />
The above review of state enforcement records suggests that very few prosecutions<br />
are brought under state humane slaughter laws. In fact, only one prosecution could<br />
be identified for the entire United States during a recent 3-year period of time. Even<br />
were prosecutions to be brought under state humane slaughter statutes, only relatively<br />
weak misdemeanor penalties could be assessed in most cases. Moreover, not all states<br />
have humane slaughter codes that can be applied. As a result, animal advocates have<br />
encouraged state and local officials to prosecute occurrences of inhumane slaughter under<br />
state anti-cruelty laws.<br />
Although all 50 states have enacted anti-cruelty laws, a number of states exempt<br />
accepted agricultural practices (Table 24). This exemption does not necessarily<br />
preclude prosecution of inhumane slaughter cases, as the meat industry has clearly<br />
defined practices in terms of the humane handling and slaughter of livestock (see<br />
Section 9). Three of these states, as well as two additional ones, exempt slaughter by<br />
approved methods. Again, this limitation should not automatically rule out prosecution<br />
of inhumane slaughter under the law. However, the anti-cruelty laws of five states<br />
exempt slaughter generally, which could preclude prosecution. (See Appendix D for<br />
relevant excerpts from the laws.)<br />
Table 24. State Anti-Cruelty Laws<br />
State laws exempting accepted agricultural practices (22 states):<br />
Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,<br />
Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,<br />
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming<br />
State laws exempting slaughter by approved methods (five states):<br />
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota<br />
State laws exempting slaughter generally (five states):<br />
Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Rhode Island<br />
To date, attempts to pressure state officials to prosecute inhumane slaughter under state<br />
animal cruelty codes have proven unsuccessful. An individual was prosecuted for neglect/<br />
abuse of animals on the premises of a slaughterhouse in at least one case 213 , but no<br />
instances have been located of successful prosecution of inhumane treatment during the<br />
slaughter process itself. In declining to prosecute under anti-cruelty statutes, state and<br />
213 Teeter B, Arrest warrants issued for slaughterhouse owner, [Ft Worth] Star-Telegram, August 24, 2004;<br />
Slaughterhouse owner gets 6 month sentence, Star-Telegram, May 5, 2005.<br />
75