Many communities are currently debating sex offender residency restrictions and other sex offender laws. These are just a few:
In Nevada: "State lawmakers are being asked to tighten Nevada's sex offender laws. Assembly Bill 186 would require sex offenders to give DNA samples to police. . . . [I]t would force offenders to be placed on a global positioning system so authorities could track them at all times."
In Kentucky: "The Kentucky Senate is expected to pass a bill today that would require convicted sex offenders to provide their Internet user names or other online identities to the state Justice Cabinet."
In a Texas town: "Registered sex offenders would be barred from living within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and other places children gather under new rules that received initial City Council approval Monday."
In Linn County, Iowa: "A push is on to roll back the 2,000-foot residency rule for convicted sex offenders. The Linn County sheriff is asking county supervisors to approve this resolution Tuesday." The resolution is non-binding, but is consistent with other efforts in the state to repeal the state statute establishing the 2,000-foot residency restriction.
However, in Dyersville, Iowa, the reaction has been a little different: "Before Iowa legislators take any steps to undo new laws establishing residency requirements for sex offenders, Dyersville Mayor Jim Heavens wants them to know his small town's story."
In a village in New York: "And, digging into the issue, she found some communities have passed laws that don’t allow residency of the most serious — Level 2 or 3 — sex offenders within 1,000 feet of a school or day-care facility. The Rouses Point Village Board has now had a similar law drafted, including playgrounds such as the one at the Civic Center as well. A public hearing is set for Tuesday."
In Arkansas: "An Arkansas lawmaker works to put all level sex offenders on the state's public Web site. Right now, only high and moderate risk offenders are put on the list for the public, but a bill expected to be filed this week could change that."
In Utah: "Utah legislators are looking to keep sex offenders from moving next door to Utah's children. The new piece of legislation would keep registered sex offenders, whose crimes involved someone under 18 years old, from living within 500 feet of schools, parks, public pools or playgrounds."
And lastly, in Wyoming: "The House on Thursday passed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly harbor a convicted sex offender who was required to register with law enforcement but had not done so. "
Needless to say, sex offender issues continue to be front-and-center on legislative and city council agendas.
Parsonsfield, Maine has taken "Jessica's Law" type restrictions a step further than most. In addition to the usual tactics employed against sex offenders, the town ordinance imposes fines against persons who "knowingly" rents or sells a home to a sex offender.
Posted by: Steve Smith | February 14, 2007 at 07:24 AM