MedicCook
11-25-2006, 10:38 AM
New law would restrict sex felons
Washington County looking to limit where offenders live, work
FORT EDWARD -- Washington County is drafting a law that would restrict where convicted sex offenders could live and work.
The law would prohibit sex offenders' activities within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and child care facilities.
Unlike existing laws in Warren, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties, the Washington County law would expand restrictions to areas near group residences of elderly or disabled populations, such as nursing homes. These populations are described as "vulnerable" in the draft law.
The residency restriction -- which wouldn't affect the 172 offenders currently registered in the county -- could be approved by January.
"Given that Saratoga County and Warren County already have laws in effect, it is that much more important that Washington County's law is as effective, if not more effective," said Fort Edward Town Supervisor Merrilyn Pulver.
Pulver began leading the charge for the law in July when she was approached by a few residents of the village of Fort Edward.
The municipality is very close to Warren County, which was then in the process of passing a similar law. It also is bordered by Saratoga County, which had already passed a law in April.
"We're coming in a little late to the game. When you look around and see everybody else is doing it, you want to provide the same protections for your residents," said County Attorney Roger Wickes.
Pulver said the law took time to develop.
In the summer, she organized a subcommittee of the county's public safety committee. Then in the fall, she chaired meetings with interested parties, including District Attorney Kevin Kortright and Assemblyman Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga.
"In the end, it will be as good as it can be," Pulver said.
Gov. George Pataki has repeatedly voiced a desire to see a state or federal law restricting the residency of convicted sex offenders. On Tuesday, the state's highest court ruled against his latest order to hold convicts in psychiatric facilities so that they couldn't return to their home communities and re-offend.
If a state law is passed, Pulver said, the more stringent local law would supersede it.
"That's the advantage of passing your local laws," she said.
Violations would be treated as a class A misdemeanor punishable by as much as a $500 fine or a jail term as long as six months.
Details of enforcement had not yet been finalized as of this week.
It would definitely mean more work for the Washington County Sheriff's Department, said Sheriff Roger Leclaire.
Leclaire said it is too soon to say if the department would need to hire another investigator. Right now, Investigator Terry Allen administers the department's sex offender registry.
"If we get a complaint, we'll have to go out and check to see where they are living," Leclaire said.
The law's effects could be most visible in the county's small villages. Most contain a variety of parks, day-care centers, schools and group homes for elderly or disabled residents.
"We have so many schools in Hudson Falls you'd be hard pressed not to live near one," said Hudson Falls police Sgt. Scott Gillis.
The village of Greenwich, for example, contains three schools, public parks and facilities used by Community, Work & Independence Inc., or CWI, which provides work, home and recreational opportunities for disabled individuals.
Just over the village line, there is a special day care and overnight respite center owned by Warren Washington ARC, which runs 12 care-giving facilities for people with developmental disabilities in Washington County.
"Any additional protection is a good thing," said Kris Walterich, assistant executive director for ARC.
Town supervisors plan to discuss this matter at their next full board meeting on Dec. 15.
To search for a convicted sex offender in your zip code, visit:
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/search_index.htm
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2006/11/25/news/doc4567cae7b6297875514446.txt
Washington County looking to limit where offenders live, work
FORT EDWARD -- Washington County is drafting a law that would restrict where convicted sex offenders could live and work.
The law would prohibit sex offenders' activities within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and child care facilities.
Unlike existing laws in Warren, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties, the Washington County law would expand restrictions to areas near group residences of elderly or disabled populations, such as nursing homes. These populations are described as "vulnerable" in the draft law.
The residency restriction -- which wouldn't affect the 172 offenders currently registered in the county -- could be approved by January.
"Given that Saratoga County and Warren County already have laws in effect, it is that much more important that Washington County's law is as effective, if not more effective," said Fort Edward Town Supervisor Merrilyn Pulver.
Pulver began leading the charge for the law in July when she was approached by a few residents of the village of Fort Edward.
The municipality is very close to Warren County, which was then in the process of passing a similar law. It also is bordered by Saratoga County, which had already passed a law in April.
"We're coming in a little late to the game. When you look around and see everybody else is doing it, you want to provide the same protections for your residents," said County Attorney Roger Wickes.
Pulver said the law took time to develop.
In the summer, she organized a subcommittee of the county's public safety committee. Then in the fall, she chaired meetings with interested parties, including District Attorney Kevin Kortright and Assemblyman Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga.
"In the end, it will be as good as it can be," Pulver said.
Gov. George Pataki has repeatedly voiced a desire to see a state or federal law restricting the residency of convicted sex offenders. On Tuesday, the state's highest court ruled against his latest order to hold convicts in psychiatric facilities so that they couldn't return to their home communities and re-offend.
If a state law is passed, Pulver said, the more stringent local law would supersede it.
"That's the advantage of passing your local laws," she said.
Violations would be treated as a class A misdemeanor punishable by as much as a $500 fine or a jail term as long as six months.
Details of enforcement had not yet been finalized as of this week.
It would definitely mean more work for the Washington County Sheriff's Department, said Sheriff Roger Leclaire.
Leclaire said it is too soon to say if the department would need to hire another investigator. Right now, Investigator Terry Allen administers the department's sex offender registry.
"If we get a complaint, we'll have to go out and check to see where they are living," Leclaire said.
The law's effects could be most visible in the county's small villages. Most contain a variety of parks, day-care centers, schools and group homes for elderly or disabled residents.
"We have so many schools in Hudson Falls you'd be hard pressed not to live near one," said Hudson Falls police Sgt. Scott Gillis.
The village of Greenwich, for example, contains three schools, public parks and facilities used by Community, Work & Independence Inc., or CWI, which provides work, home and recreational opportunities for disabled individuals.
Just over the village line, there is a special day care and overnight respite center owned by Warren Washington ARC, which runs 12 care-giving facilities for people with developmental disabilities in Washington County.
"Any additional protection is a good thing," said Kris Walterich, assistant executive director for ARC.
Town supervisors plan to discuss this matter at their next full board meeting on Dec. 15.
To search for a convicted sex offender in your zip code, visit:
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/search_index.htm
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2006/11/25/news/doc4567cae7b6297875514446.txt