WV- City Mulls New Sex Offender Regulation

2-12-2009 West Virginia:

Weirton officials aren't satisfied with having information about convicted sex offenders who live there - they also want to be informed of any such prisoners who may want to live there upon their release.

City leaders soon may consider an ordinance to adopt a stricter version of Megan's Law, which requires law enforcement to make information available to the public concerning registered sex offenders.

Ward 1 Councilman Harold "Bubba" Miller recently asked Police Chief Bruce Marshall to elaborate on awareness levels in in the community and to bring attention to Megan's Law.

"Vince Gurerra and I have been working on putting together an ordinance to present to council by the next meeting," said Miller.

Gurerra, the city attorney, said the legislation would limit the time given to sex offenders to register their information. He and Miller are working to see if they can mandate that a prisoner inform city officials and other authorities before they are released from prison and move into the area.

"The chief stated that West Virginia currently has 25 sex offenders with unknown whereabouts," said Miller.

Miller had asked if something could be done about the time limit given to sex offenders to register with the state.

"It seems silly to me that we give them any amount of days to register. They could do a lot of damage in that time," he said of convicted sex offenders.

--Who is it that has implanted into the minds of lawmakers, that, if a person is registered, they will not commit a crime? What is wrong with lawmakers brains?

Gurerra said he would send a letter to West Virginia's attorney general asking if a city law could be put in place stating that sex offenders would have to inform the city before they are permitted to move to Weirton or notify the city before they are released from prison.

"We want to put something in that says 10 to 20 days before you are released, you have 10 to 20 days to inform city officials and police as well," said Gurerra, "because 15 days turns into six months and so forth, and we don't want that." ..News Source.. by ANGELINA DICKSON