OH: Committee recommends eliminating residency restrictions for sex offenders
A proposed change to Ohio’s Criminal Code could eliminate residency restrictions for sex offenders.
The Criminal Justice Recodification Committee has finished reviewing Ohio’s extensive criminal code after two years. However, not everyone agrees with some of its recommendations.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) opposes this specific recommended change, saying it’s meant to keep children safe. Right now, sex offenders cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center or pre-school.
“They made some recommendations on a variety of bills,” said director of government affairs for the FOP Michael Weinman. “One of the most alarming is allowing the sex offenders to live anywhere.”
He said the restrictions create a safe zone in areas where there’s a concentration of children.
“From a police perspective you’re getting the potential offenders away from those victims,” said Weinman.
State Public Defender and vice chair of the Criminal Justice Recodification Committee Tim Young said there’s no empirical data that shows these restrictions protect kids.
He said residency restrictions can leave some sex offenders homeless, which can create more problems.
“As soon as you destabilize someone to homelessness you’re far more likely for them to commit another crime,” said Young. “There’s a higher likelihood of crime with these restrictions than without.”
He said eventually some of these offenders stop reporting to sheriffs and probation officers, leaving law enforcement without any oversight or control.
“I want our government to spend money on things that are effective and if we’re spending money on this and we spend millions on this, on enforcing these restrictions, on enforcing registration requirements,” said Young. “I know that means we’re taking money away from actually making my children safe.”
He said the Recodification Committee had a broad range of members including prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and law enforcement officials. Young said they’re hopefully their recommendations will be introduced as an omnibus bill when the next legislative session begins.
My son’s transfer was just denied by Ohio because of the residency restrictions but yet my parents have a registered sex offender that lives next door to them. Yes there is a school down the road from them but my son is not on sex offender probation, he was put on regular probation with some restrictions off the sex offender list. Residency restrictions was not put on his probation so he does not have any residency restrictions so I don’t get how Ohio denied it unless there is incorrect information on his transfer papers from Florida. Wouldn’t Ohio just be carrying out what Florida put into place and not implementing their laws? I am so frustrated right now. I just want to bring my son home where he has his family.
Any sex offence that is committed as a new! With the probability of being committed by a registrant is 5% or less and 95% or more being a “new”offender” or one that has been finally caught for the first time. He or she would probably committ the offence outside of an area where they live. So every child needs to learn to avoid being victims, where ever the play, walk, ECT. And to not trust no one of authority. Including family members, teachers, priest, etc. Teach them what the dangers are in all possibilities. ” use self defence” and don’t let there guard down! This is nothing new, but keep refreshed in there minds.[CHILD ]
So the safe place is at school?? That’s why all of these teachers are being arrested for sex with students!! Yep sounds safe to me.