My Wednesday morning began earlier than usual with a sunrise call from Los Angeles radio station KFI requesting to discuss a report released by California’s Sex Offender Management Board, a state commission that monitors and analyzes sex offender laws in California.
Apparently SOMB’s latest report suggests that California should overturn a provision of Prop 83: Jessica’s Law that restricts paroled sex offenders from living 2,000 feet from schools, parks and other places where children gather.
I had already discussed the report with members of the SOMB and the Los Angeles Times the day previous so I was not caught off guard by the KFI reporter. Matter of fact, I prepared myself for one of those days where I would receive emails and calls from Californians understandably upset by yet another news story condemning Jessica’s Law.
I told the KFI reporter what I told everyone else: I am disappointed by the report’s recommendations, which has suggested in a vague manner that the Legislature and Governor toss the will of the voters aside in favor of the rights of sex offenders – some of whom may have been inconvenienced by the 2,000-foot living restriction.
The report flatly fails to show actual evidence that supports the board’s idea that sex offender residency laws in California should be abandoned.
The report also fails to address the fact that California’s Jessica’s Law includes Global Positioning Satellite monitoring of sex offenders in conjunction with housing restrictions. Many of the states that have adopted a Jessica’s Law do not include GPS monitoring. With all due respect to those other states, GPS monitoring is an essential partner to living restriction. Without GPS monitoring, many sex offenders have the opportunity to go underground.
So facts are this: Every sex offender paroled in California since 2006 is now wearing GPS and monitored by the State Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. Each of these sex offenders are restricted from living closer than 2,000 feet from schools and parks.
There is no evidence that sex offenders are facing impossible challenges; just difficulties.
This is no reason to throw out a sound law approved by the voters.
I believe voters now – as they did in 2006 when they overwhelmingly passed Jessica’s Law – oppose child molesters living across the street from schools.