Bill Would Keep Parents Informed About Sex Offenders in Schools
by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker
February 17, 2005
(AgapePress) - A new bill in the Washington State legislature would notify parents and school officials about the presence of sex offenders -- including juvenile sex offenders -- that are attending schools in their area.The bill known as HB 1201 is being sponsored by Representative Kirk Pearson and requires that sex offenders attending or planning to attend a school in Washington report to the local county sheriff to register, providing the name and address of the school. Provisions of the bill also apply to students attending colleges and to adults working or seeking employment at a public or private educational institution in the state.
The sheriff's office would then maintain a list of Level II and Level III offenders -- those who previously committed or were convicted of sexual offenses and are considered moderate risk (II) or high risk (III) to re-offend within the community at large. Under the provisions of the bill, that list would be available for any parent or school employee to access upon request.
Pearson says he drafted the legislation after learning that a high school student constituent was sexually assaulted by a fellow student he tried to befriend. According to the state legislator, the victim was unaware his attacker was a Level II sex offender. Local law enforcement officials are required by state law to notify residents if a convicted sex offender moves into their neighborhood; however, Pearson is concerned that no method exists under current state law to allow parents to be informed about whether their children are going to school with a registered sex offender.
The Republican congressman says some critics have suggested that the purpose of the legislation is to harass sex offenders. "No, we're not trying to do that," he asserts, "but we're trying to protect those that do not have that type of information on who their fellow students are." He insists that HB 1201 is designed to improve public safety by keeping the public informed.
And at the same time, Pearson contends, the bill also offers a measure of protection to the sex offenders. "More so, this is an accountability-type piece of legislation," he says, "where they know that other people know their background." Far from being denied an education, sex offenders are "encouraged to finish school and get on with their life," he says. "However, there are people in the school that know their background and are going to hold them to a standard."
In this way, the Washington State representative explains, students who have committed sexual offenses in the past can be monitored. And if a problem or dangerous situation arises, those who are aware of their history will be able to intervene.
Pearson introduced a similar bill in the last legislative session, and when the measure unfortunately died, he vowed to bring up the issue in the following year. This time, HB 1201 was referred to the Juvenile Justice and Family Law committee after its first reading on January 18. Currently, Pearson is working on changes to the measure so it can be moved out of committee.
