CT- Danbury area sex offender ordinances long on intentions, short on teeth

4-23-2009 Connecticut:

With nearly 100 registered sex offenders living in the Danbury area, Brookfield is well-intentioned with its proposed sex offender ordinance.
The proposal, which was initiated by First Selectman Robert Silvaggi last Friday, calls for the creation of "child safety zones" in Brookfield at parks, swimming pools, schools, playgrounds and other public places children frequent.

If ultimately approved -- selectmen will hold a public hearing on the ordinance May 4 -- Brookfield will join several local municipalities with sex offender ordinances, including Danbury, New Milford and Ridgefield.

As written, however, none of these sex offender ordinances is strong enough.

A $100 fine -- or even a $250 fine -- is basically a slap on the wrist for registered sex offenders. It's the equivalent of a speeding ticket.

If the state's sex offender registry isn't a deterrent, it's hard to imagine how a few hundred bucks will stop a determined sexual predator.

Unfortunately, the Connecticut General Statutes don't help much. They cap municipal ordinance fines at $250.
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New Milford Mayor Pat Murphy, for one, believes the fee should be higher, especially for sex offender laws.

"The state dictates the (fee) cap. What the reasoning is, I could hardly even venture to tell you," said Murphy, whose town imposes a $250 fee for violations of its sex offender ordinance.

"I really can't explain the state's motivation. But certainly, $250 doesn't seem high enough. I'm not sure of the rationale behind it," Murphy went on. "There are times when I am pretty severe about punishment. This would be one of them."

The other problem with sex offender legislation is enforcement. How do you identify a sex offender at the neighborhood park, the playground, the local pool or an elementary school?

Evil doesn't always look disheveled or scary, of course. Sometimes, it's impeccably dressed, with a spit-shined smile.

What's more, many sex offenders are known to their victims, particularly if the victim is a child. Although local ordinances focus on pedophiles, plenty of other sexual predators commit crimes against adults.

And yet, local sex offender ordinances in Danbury, Ridgefield, New Milford -- and perhaps, Brookfield -- are better than nothing.

They're an important first step in this process, a public display of strength, even if current ordinances are largely paper handcuffs.

"Our motivation is to try and keep (registered sex offenders) out of places where they don't belong," said Silvaggi, whose proposal calls for a $100 fine. "We are not trying to persecute anyone. They have a right to live their lives."

Murphy conceded that sex offenders don't operate with a scarlet letter on their chests.

But that doesn't mean you hand over your kids.

"The thing with a deterrent is, you can never really tell how well it works," Murphy said. "But you do hope that it reminds people that we're not welcoming to that kind of behavior in New Milford."

In New Milford's case, the 2007 ordinance was provoked by a convicted sex offender who planned to move into a neighborhood where he could see seven different sets of playground equipment.

The man later decided to move elsewhere.

"These ordinances are not perfect," Murphy said. "But they do let people know that our community is aware of these activities. We are looking and we are watching."

Even with a $250 ticket, innocence is not for sale in New Milford, Danbury, Ridgefield or anywhere else. Local sex offender ordinances are just one tool.

They'll never replace talking with your kids about safety. ..News Source.. by Brian Koonz