34°Sandusky seeks to bar sex offenders from living near city parks
Aug 22
2010
The city commission may approve a law Monday night that would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of city parks.
Because the city has 55 parks covering about 660 acres, the law would severely limit places sex offenders could live within city limits.
Commissioner Pervis Brown, who proposed the law, said Sandusky must protect its children "by any means possible."
"You've got little children and kids at these parks -- and we have these people in these areas and we know that they're there -- and we should be able to monitor them," Brown said. "We've got to protect our children."
The city would be one of the first in Ohio to approve such a law.
The local law would supplement state law, which prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools and child day cares.
But other cities have had trouble enforcing these types of laws, interim city manager Don Icsman said, and he cautioned residents and officials about getting too optimistic.
"Other places have done it, and it hasn't been smooth sailing," Icsman said. "So I wouldn't want you to think that it would be (here). I just don't want to make promises and then under-deliver."
Lorain is one of those cities that has struggled: The city recently approved an ordinance -- much like Sandusky's proposed law -- that prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet of parks.
But a complex web of laws, court cases and dates has made it difficult for the Lorain County Sheriff's office to enforce that ordinance, officials said.
The laws "grandfather" people in, so depending on when offenders committed a crime or moved into a house, one or all of the laws might not apply to them.
In July, the Lorain Law Department sent out letters telling 25 offenders they were violating the law, only to send out secondary letters admitting it made mistakes in some cases. Officials are still working on who's in violation of Lorain's law and who isn't.
"We are re-examining the whole list," R.J. Budway, Lorain's assistant law director, said.
Another issue involves whether these laws actually work. Most experts and data say they don't.
Dr. Fred Berlin, founder of the Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorder Clinic, said trying to solve pedophilia by restricting where people live is like trying to solve alcoholism by prohibiting drunk-driving offenders from living near bars.
"Let me make it clear that we do need to have a strong criminal justice approach to it," Berlin said, but legislating where they live won't solve the problem.
Statistics support Berlin's stance.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections examined new sex offenses by offenders released between 1990 and 2005 and found only 12 percent established contact with the victims within one mile of their homes, and none did so near a school, park or playground.
The Colorado Department of Public Safety found sex offenders who committed new crimes did not live significantly closer to schools or day cares than offenders who did not re-offend.
The Colorado study, like others, also found sex offenders with greater social support and stability were less likely to commit new crimes.
That's part of the reason groups such as Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers oppose residency restrictions -- they often force offenders to live in rural areas, far from their families, available jobs or reliable transportation, which increase the chances they'll commit another sex offense.
In this way, residency restrictions can actually make things worse, experts said.
Erie County assistant prosecutor Mary Barylski agreed residency restrictions pose their own challenges, especially in places like Sandusky, where schools, day cares and parks are numerous. But she still thinks the laws are necessary.
"They may not have cars, and the jobs aren't available out in the country, which makes it difficult for the offender," Barylski said earlier this year. "But you're still looking at who we're trying to protect, and we're trying to protect the children."
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04:13 PM
Exxcellent says
Yep, identify them!
Tattoo on their forehead P E R V E R T!
I am not joking either.
11:34 AM
SMH-FML says
I HAVE A QUESTION ..... When someone gets a DUI, they get "party plates". The yellow plates that let people know they were caught driving under the influence. I know it's not foolproof, because they can borrow someone's car to drive, etc. However, I have heard this idea thrown around for sexual - based offenders and I know it's a little off topic but I am just wondering what everyone thinks of this. Honestly, myself, I am not really sure but I think the concept is kind of "outside the box". I have heard offenders were fearful they would be targeted, but wouldn' t dui drivers possibly face the same or do they ? Not sure, but I thought it would be an interesting topic. Let me just add i have never had a dui nor am i an offender. !! I am not saying giving sex offenders special plates is a good idea, I really don't have an opinion or have enough facts to base an opinion, i'm just wondering what everyone thinks!
12:06 AM
Julie R. says
That detective sounds like a real man's man-----if you know what I mean.
11:55 PM
columbus avenue says
So then the commissioners wll be BUYING thier homes they are forced to vacate, PAYING for their leases they must cancel etc.?
Just so we know.
11:04 PM
katelih says
I cant believe Det. Helen, a woman, suggested Fitzpatrick " had a weakness" when he raped a 15 year girl.
10:19 PM
Dick-Tracey. says
I think the city needs to read this first espically that so called law director:
When the constitutionality of residence restrictions has been challenged, these laws have generally been upheld (
Doe v. Miller, 2005; State v. Seering, 2005) and the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to rule on the issue. In December 2006, however, a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey declared a township’s local ordinance unconstitutional because it violated the state’s "Megan’s Law," which prevents sex offender registration status from being used to deny housing or accommodations (Elwell v. Lower Township, 2006). More challenges are underway, and currently, a Georgia law banning sex offenders from living or working within 1,000 feet of school bus stops (with no grandfather clause) has been granted class action status, and a temporary injunction preventing enforcement of the law is in effect. A similar injunction exists in California after the overwhelming recent passage of Proposition 83, a comprehensive bill requiring sex offenders to live at least 2,000 feet from a school or park.
09:59 PM
Dick-Tracey. says
09:34 PM
Dick-Tracey. says
the schools tell our children the police are our friends and we need to trust them !!!!!!!!
why dont the schools tell us sometimes the police are the bad guys !!!!!!!
how many police officer across the nation have been arrested for rape or sexual misconduct!!!!
why when a police officer violates a law they are still allowed to stay on the force"?
I think the register should publiclly show what officers have been actually done wrong doing but the so called acting chief still has as police officers it just goes to show police can do what they want
look at the officer that raped that girl and the 2 detectives told a judge that it was just a weekness the officer had!!!!!! what his wife was not good enough? had to rape a little girl?
remember the police are not your childrens friend they can rape also and have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
09:26 PM
katelih says
Swiss family , Some relatives arent even strangers and will still try to touch inappropriately. Like you said, if someone wants to do something to a child , they will do whatever it takes to succeed . My parents didnt think any thing bad would happen to me when I would spend the night with my Grandma, but they forgot one thing . She had a HUSBAND!!!!!!! Why do people feel the need to have their child spend the night somewhere anyhow? Whats the point? To sleep? My child will spend his nights with me.
07:48 PM
swiss family says
I am really encouraged to see that some commenters really get it... unfortunately, it really does not matter where the sexual predators live, they could be miles away from school yards and parks, but if their desired target is children of that age, they will do whatever, and by whichever means to get there to prey upon their intended victims.
I do agree also that the real problem is in the punishment department.. these predators cannot be rehabilitated, the facts point to that, so they should never be released back into society, and their crime should be punished so severly that they know up front that to give into their twisted urges, will give them a very difficult lifetime in prison.
it should also be noted, especially now, where we have just had a law enforcement officer convicted of sexual abuse, that you can not trust your children and their safety to anyone... unfortunately predators are in our midst, disguised as policemen,coaches, doctors, neighbors, clergy, relatives .. etc..if you get a strange and uncomfortable feeling from someone, stick with it.. it would be better to err on the safe side then to allow someone to destroy your child's life forever.
please, also be aware that you might be giving your child mixed signals.. you tell them to stay away from and to not talk to strangers, and yet when you see cousin "Bill"Christmas, etc, and your child only sees them for a short time, every year.. they are a stranger to your child!! so please don't confuse your child by telling them to give him a hug, a kiss, etc..you are confusing them.. try to see [people from your child's point of view, and protect them from what you know is danger..
07:28 PM
starryeyes83 says
How many elderly prisoners are we still paying for? Being incarcerated for serious crimes such as murder.....we are now paying for all their medical needs and equipment. Lovely, isn't it?
How many more decades can we do this??
Bring back "Old Sparky". Lot cheaper in the long run.
04:14 PM
Just Saying says
These criminals should be pretty relieved that America doesn't have the same view on crime and punishment that India has. Pretty sure their punishments eliminate repeat performances. America's criminals seem to have more rights than their victims, and don't even get me started on how America's celebrity population always seem to be above the law.
03:08 PM
Darkhorse says
I think the responsibility has to come from the parents instead of making up more laws that the city can't possibly monitor or enforece. The parents must accompany the child to the park and not allow them to go there alone. Parents should not allow the parks to be turned into a free babysitting area to drop the kids off and forget about them for a few hours and hope they are still there when they come to pick them up.
02:42 PM
Dick-Tracey. says
hey bhicks better yet lets put a girlscout cookie stand there or better yet a donut shop police will always be there!!!!!
also is there some kind of regulation for police being able to be physcially fit!!!!! look at some of our police do you think they could chace after anyone?
02:39 PM
Dick-Tracey. says
I have a question for the idiots who want to try and pass this ordinance will it include the skateboard park because if this is the case how can a person who has been classified as a register sex offender go to court if he needs to or how can he go to the city building?
beside i would like to see the city try and pass this and find someone who will challenge it with the supreme court!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think there should be an ordinance about slum lords suck as to those who do not keep the up keep of theie rentals like maybe some of our commish? not nameing no names huh?
02:39 PM
bhicks says
Strange men can still go there ,it doesnt matter where they live ,what about homeless weirdos? ,Last time i was there a very strange guy was there with no kids smoking a ciggarette and talking on his phone on the bench, any weirdo can go and just hang out?The police station should have a text hotline, so cops can ride by the troubled area, cause when you call with concerns they act like they dont care!
12:05 PM
44846GWP says
The lable "Sex offender" in its self tells us nothing, they may have been convicted of something that had NOTHING to do with minors. They may have never touched a minor. These people have paid for their crime, whatever they did, I don't agree with public witch hunts. I would rather have a sex offender live next to me than a drug dealer, rapist, or murderer. Do we keep track of them like we do sex offenders? No we don't. I would rather have a sex offender living next to me than the conservative republican that I do now, with his barking dog 24/7!
11:56 AM
CheObama says
You are so right, your elected officials are barking up the wrong tree! There are greater issues in Sandusky than where a registered sex offender might live.
11:52 AM
CheObama says
I agree with you on that. Will restricting anyone where they live make it safer? If that is the case then we have to strike down fair housing laws!
11:08 AM
big_d says
Unfortunately, the people who commit this type of crime are broken, I don't believe that there is any rehabilitating them, just best to remove them from society. That being said, lets put some sense into these laws, save this type of punishment for those who deserve it, not for the person who gets tagged a sex offender for public indecency, for say relieving oneself in public, or the teen who gets tagged for sexting, or the 18 year old for having sex with his seventeen year old girlfriend. There will have to be better guidelines for this if this is what the majority wants. Just my two cents.10:55 AM
Pragmatic says
I think if we looked into the evidence of the research – if a sex offender desires to commit another illegal act, it wouldn’t matter where they live. The sex offender list doesn’t only showcase child molesters, but people who have violated adults too.
10:40 AM
concerned citizen1 says
It's not that trying to protect our children is a problem, but thinking that a sex offender not being allowed to live by a park is going to protect our children, is naive. Sex offenders will walk, drive, take a cab or whatever it takes to GO to a park, the mall, the school..... The living location of a sex offender is not going to STOP them from being criminals. This entire law is naive. Sad to say, you just can't send your children alone - anywhere. Watch your children and make the laws so that , especially repeat offenders, don't live in society at all. The "fix" is at the punishment level - not where they live because we have overcrowded jails, and these criminals get let out into society in general. Don't spend city time and money on this! Again - a criminal will travel to where they want to commit the crime. Also, if we are going to "scarlet letter" the sex offenders...why doesn't society do the same for past thieves, murderers, etc.??? We have to learn to keep ourselves and our children safe from all harmful people.
08:07 AM
Dick-Tracey. says
lets ask the sheriffs department to see if they can handle these complaints didnt the city commissioners state the sheriffs dept has to enforce this new ordinance?
i guess some of our former police cannot go to the park now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
is this law even going to be legal and what about those who live there now ex-pro facto law?
07:04 AM
Bailey says
Its obama's fault and heres the proof, Remember, your child and grandchild is in danger because Obama thinks its more important to protect the illegals than to protect the citizens he SWORE to protect.
"""Based on a one-year in-depth study, a researcher estimates there are about 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States who have had an average of four victims each.
Deborah Schurman-Kauflin of the Violent Crimes Institute in Atlanta analyzed 1,500 cases from January 1999 through April 2006 that included serial rapes, serial murders, sexual homicides and child molestation committed by illegal immigrants.
1 MILLION sex crime committed by ILLEGALS, so what does Obama do? He charges a state and sheriff. Where do the liberals find these supporters of child molestors who act irrationally?
05:03 AM
czechurself says
there are many important issues the commissioners focus their attention and this is one. however, man power being low on the dept and laws being difficult to pass and enforce, we all need to therefore do our part to be aware and help protect the children. godspeed
03:50 AM
Darkhorse says
In this town, we have schools and parks scattered all over town and it would be hard to enforce the law or monitor it. Why doesn't Pervis focus on some of the real important things going on in town.
01:49 AM
lincoln76 says
You know what is so funny about this legislation is that the legislature is making the sex offender registry PUNITIVE and because of that, there soon will be no Sex Offender Registry.
I laugh at that because the legislature doesn't know how to leave well enough alone.