WV- Focus on Sex Offenders

4-13-2009 West Virginia:

WEIRTON - City leaders want convicted sex offenders to register with the police department 30 days earlier than they currently do, so City Council may pass an ordinance establishing that requirement.

Council will meet to discuss this proposed ordinance and other matters at 7 p.m. Monday in City Council Chambers on the second floor of the City Building, 200 Municipal Plaza.

"We want the same information that is currently required, but we want it earlier," City Attorney Vince Gurrera said of the ordinance that would take effect immediately upon passage if council adopts it Monday.

Gurrera said current law requires sex offenders to register with the city within 15 days after moving there, but the Weirton ordinance would compel those convicted for sex offenses to register 15 days prior to entering the city.

"This is not designed to be harder on anyone. We just feel that if a sex offender enters our city, they should have to register when they are coming instead of after they are already here," he said.

Hummm, is this something like Paul Revere "The British Are Coming,...." so everyone can get their guns out? If so, like biker gangs coming to town, the best way to handle this is have 500-1000 RSOs move in their town, on the same day, that ought to keep things busy...

The ordinance states: "This Council further finds and declares that persons required to register as a 'sex offender' and/or 'sexually violent predator' ... have a reduced expectation of privacy because of the state of West Virginia and city of Weirton's interest in public safety."

(eAdvocate Post)

The law would require sex offenders to give Weirton their names, addresses of where they will live, work or attend school, their Social Security numbers, full-face photos, a description of the crimes for which they have been convicted, fingerprints, information about any vehicles they own, information relating to their Internet accounts and any phone numbers they plan to use on a regular basis.

Potential penalties for violating these terms include fines from $250 to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail.

Gurrera does not believe the ordinance will in any way violate the U.S. Constitution or its West Virginia counterpart.

"There is case law that I believe means this will be constitutional," he said. ..News Source.. by CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer