Where Can Offenders Stay?

 

 

Does This Man Live on Fountain Square?

Basil Sturgill? I don't think so, but that is the address he gave the sheriff when he registered as a sexual offender last week. He probably just got out of jail and had no idea what else to tell them when asked where he is going to live... I've seen other men list their cars, or even the sidewalk....

Offender Notification Update

The 1,000 foot restriction on sex-offendors has been shot down.

See Citybeat blog and Enquirer article on this.

Greg Korte follows-up with an entry about the offenders that refuse to register.

I touched on this issue a couple weeks ago here.

The more I think about it, the more I think the residency restrictions are folly. I remain convinced that registration is probably a good idea though, at least for the child molestors and serial/violent rapists.

The 1,000 foot rule was only shot down for people convicted before the law was enacted. It should be revoked for all offenders.

Sex Offender Limits - Going Too Far?

I get an email almost everyday notifying me that a person convicted of sexual offense has moved into my neighborhood. Most of the offenders, have a listed address of 115 W. McMicken, which is the location of the Pogue Rehabilitation Center, a treatment facility for hard-to place male offenders, operated by the VOA. A few are at various apartments or at the Drop-Inn-Center, and a few are listed as residing at the Justice Center. I think I get notified of any offender that lives within one mile. You can sign up for this notification service at the Hamilton County Sheriff's site.

I appreciate the notification, as it gives neighbors a heads-up on a potential threat, however I feel that the restrictions on where these people can live is beginning to get overly restrictive:

Ohio bars registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school. But many city leaders have said that isn't tough enough.

Some have extended the buffer zones to 2,500 feet — about a half-mile — and added parks, preschools and other places to the restricted list.

One argument against the most restrictive bans is that sex offenders will simply stop registering or say they have moved somewhere else.

In my opinion, registration of these type offenders is a good idea. Increasing the distance they must be from schools, parks and daycares is unnecessary and could be counter productive.

There is another argument made by people who live closer to the Pogue Center than me that it is a deterrent to development and holds down property values. They also say that they attract placement of offenders from other places across Ohio. All this is true, but I don't really know what the solution, is.

UPDATE: Interesting site that combines all the sheriff's info into one searchable map. hat tip Jackie Danicki.