Joan’s Law updated to cover children up to 18 years old
Forty-four years ago marked a day in which citizens of Hillsdale would never forget: the death of Joan Angela D’Alessandro. Joan, a dedicated Girl Scout from Hillsdale, was only 7 years old when she was molested and murdered on April 19, 1973.
Joan delivered Girl Scout cookies to her neighbor, Joseph McGowan, three doors down, and never returned. McGowan admitted to killing Joan on Easter Sunday, and Joan’s body was found that day at Harriman State Park, N.Y.
Her mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, believes that since Joan’s death and discovery was in between a three-day period of Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday, it was a sign from God that she was at peace.
“It was a message of hope.” Rosemarie said.
Twenty years later, McGowan was eligible for parole. As a result of Rosemarie’s work to keep him locked up, Joan’s Law was passed in 1997 in N.J. The law states that persons who are convicted of killing an individual under the age of 14 have no chance of parole.
Current Girl Scout and Pascack Valley senior, Holly Aloi expressed the importance of Joan’s law, calling it “a step in the right direction.”
“The environment is very inclusive and feels like another community working together with a common goal in mind: to help others,” Aloi said.
Aloi has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and believes that Joan’s Law has created a safer environment with much more knowledge and awareness.
Rosemarie believes that although this incident happened years ago, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts should still not deliver goods door-to-door alone.
“Selling door-to-door is a matter of what is the best way to sell cookies is in a given town,” Aloi said. “There are better ways to go about selling something to the public, especially with the ability to complete online sales.”
A federal version of Joan’s Law was passed in 1998. In 2004, NY passed the law as well. It ultimately became the first mandatory life sentence law in NY history.
In 2000, Rosemarie advocated for and successfully helped pass the Justice for Victims Law, which eliminates the statute of limitations for wrongful death actions in murder, manslaughter and aggravated manslaughter. The law allows victims to sue criminals if they gain inheritances or possessions any time after the crime. In 2009, this law successfully permitted two families to inherit millions of dollars from Robert Reldan, Bergen county’s infamous rapist and murderer.
Recently, Chris Christie expanded Joan’s Law to under the age of 18. Joan’s Law now officially states that a person convicted of the murder of a victim under the age of 18 must be sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole if the murder was committed in the course of the commission of a sex crime.
Rosemarie and her supporters threw a celebration in honor of the achievement. For her, knowing that she and her family were able to positively impact the safety of children is a source of comfort.
“I could not do what I did if it was not for the people supporting me.” Rosemarie said. “Change will never occur in a society if it is not for the people.”
Although the Girl Scout’s organization did not attend several events Rosemarie had invited them to in honor of Joan, she still feels that the club gives kids a great opportunity to gain constructive social skills.
“We join hands and stand up for child safety for all ages because there are so many forms of abuse.” Rosemarie said. “I feel Joan’s spirit, and I know she would still be standing up too.”
