Policy Analysis Project

Policy Analysis Project

In recent years our newspapers, televisions, and radios have been inundated with news stories about sexual offenders and sexual predators. Stories such as the kidnapping and murder of Polly Klass, Carlie Brucia, Amber Hagerman, and Jessica Lunsford have shocked the nation. Sex offenders and predators commit despicable acts; however, their acts seem more despicable when they are committed upon the most venerable members of our society, our children. Even with the new Jessica Lunsford legislation in Florida some citizens feel that it is not enough to keep their communities safe. Many cities are now looking at limiting the areas in which sex offenders and predators can live in hopes of protecting children. Many citizens and law makers are in support of this idea however, there are some that feel this proposal is too restrictive and possibly unconstitutional. This paper proposes that by prohibiting sex offenders from living near places where children gather, will help keep our children and neighborhoods safe.

To help combat sex offenders and predators numerous states have enacted laws to sanction and register sex offenders and predators. Every state in the nation now is part of the Amber Alert system which broadcasts information about abducted children. Recently in Florida the Jessica Lunsford act was signed into law which heightened Florida's laws relating to sexual offenders and predators.

Even with the new Jessica Lunsford legislation in Florida some citizens feel that it is not enough to keep their communities safe. Many cities are now looking at limiting the areas in which sex offenders and predators can live in hopes of protecting children. Many citizens and law makers are in support of this idea however, there are some that feel this proposal is too restrictive and possibly unconstitutional. In our proposal we feel that by prohibiting sex offenders from living near places where children gather, will help keep our children and neighborhoods safe.

Protecting the community from sex offenders is the utmost importance of the DeKalb County Law Officials. Much like many other counties and communities, DeKalb County officials work hard at compiling and maintaining information on sex offenders residing in this county. With the help of other member agencies, victims, and parents, the DeKalb County Sex Offender Classification and Registration Committee ranks sex offenders and assists the community in developing constructive plans to prepare themselves and their families for residing near sex offenders.

The YTM taskforce is one of the member agencies that are assisting the DeKalb County law officials in their mission to protect the community from sex offenders and to stir awareness in the communities. There was a survey that was done to assist the taskforce in calculating members of the community that were aware of sex offenders that may have come in contact with them or their children and ways in which they thought the community might benefit from information being posted.

In 2004, according to the Center for Sex Offender Management, DeKalb County, which is the second most populated county in the state of Georgia, was home to more than 730,000 residents. Of the large population of residents residing in DeKalb, more than 45% of the residents are registered sex offenders. The focus and goal of the sex offender project in DeKalb County along with the YTM taskforce is to enhance community safety, protect existing victims, prevent further victimization, and enforce strict compliance with the conditions of sex offender laws. The primary concern being that of sex offenses committed against children.

As reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), in 67% of all reported sexual offenses, the victim is younger than 18 and 34% of all victims are younger than 12. This shows that the majority of the victims are minors. "One in seven victims of sexual assault reported to law-enforcement agencies nationwide is a child younger than 6. For victims younger than 12, 4-year-olds are at the greatest risk of sexual assault.7 Of those offenders actually convicted of rape or sexual assault, two-thirds have a victim who is younger than 18, with the vast majority of these victims being 12 or younger." http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC40.pdf

In the State of Georgia, every convicted sex offender who has been released from prison or placed on probation or parole are required to registered as a sex offender in their residing county. Information that is collected on the offenders before they are released includes fingerprints, photograph, name, physical description and current address, as well as place of employment if any, the crime of which convicted and date of conviction, and the date released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation. The DeKalb County Sheriff Office maintains the records on file. They also release the information collected to the public and citizens of DeKalb County to keep them aware of the registered sex offenders. Many people in the community are unaware of the importance of being aware of individuals in their community that may pose a threat or risk to them or their children. This information is accessible to the public, but of course, the question still remains as to whether or not the community members know how to access this information.

Sex offenders who suffers from mental or personality disorders are those who are said by doctors to be more likely to engage in a future sexually violent offense. This should help in the sentencing process so that sex offenders who posses the above mention disorders are not released from prison so soon. Honestly, anyone whom is identified as a sexual predator should not be released from prison under any circumstances. But because many are, the mental and personality disorders would help to determine the duration of the sentence in the outcome.

"Sexual offenders will remain on the registry for a period of ten (10) years and shall receive a verification form each year on the anniversary of their initial registration. Sexual predators are required to verify their information every 90 days and remain on the registry for life. As of July 1, 1999, sexual offenders who have more than one prior conviction for an offense listed in O.C.G.A. Ð'§ 42-1-12, or who have been convicted of an aggravated offense such as aggravated child molestation, will remain on the registry for life and shall receive a verification form each year on the anniversary of their initial registration." http://services.georgia.gov/gbi/gbisor/disclaim.html

Anyone whom is a convicted sex offender will for the remainder of their life will have a permanent record on file. This individual will have to report all activities