WICHITA, Kansas, May 7, 2008 – The governor’s signature is all that’s needed for a new law targeting Kansas criminals.

Theft and violent sex crimes could soon come with tougher penalties. But while lawmakers see progress, critics see a setback.

Defense attorneys who spoke with KSN say the new law would clog the Kansas criminal system while doing very little to actually stop crime.

For the Kansas House and Senate, it’s seen as a tough new stance on crime.

"Sometimes you have to draw the line and say enough is enough,” said Senator Phil Journey.

Journey is one of those behind House bill 2707. The bill would require jail time for anyone convicted of theft for a fourth time or jail time for any conviction of extreme sexual violence.

"I think what Kansas needs to do is think smarter about corrections and criminal justice issues,” Journey said.

And Journey believes this new bill does just that, but not everyone agrees.

"We need to focus on solutions to crime other than additional lengthy imprisonment,” said defense attorney Dan Monnat.

Monnat points to the fact that the U.S. already imprisons more citizens than any other nation in the world and the Kansas already has a system in place with sentencing guidelines to address criminals. He says this proposed bill is just another example of Topeka messing with the system and sentencing guidelines.

"Politicians chop them up, piece meal in response to cases that generate public outcry,” Monnat said. “Pretty soon you don't have a system anymore that is either proportional or rational."

But proponents of the bill disagree; saying the new tougher stance on theft and sexual violence will make a difference and target repeat offenders.

"You've got to get them in the system to let the system work with them,” Journey said.

The bill is headed to the governor’s office for her signature. A spokeswoman for Governor Sebelius says the governor has yet to see the bill and therefore could not comment on whether she would sign it into law.