Salem shelter would support banning sex offenders

11-19-2009 Massachusetts:

SALEM — The head of the Salem Mission said he supports a proposal to ban the most dangerous sex offenders from homeless shelters.

However, Mark Cote, executive director of the Salem Mission, said he has reservations about the measure and believes the state has a responsibility to provide services and housing to offenders.

The issue of banning Level 3 sex offenders from shelters picked up steam this week when it was advocated by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, which represents 90 organizations that serve the homeless, including the Salem shelter, which has 52 beds in winter and 34 in summer.

The statewide alliance said such a ban would save money at a time of state budget cuts, make the facilities safer and help the shelter providers raise needed funds by eliminating the perception that they harbor sex offenders.

Although shelters are not required to take sex offenders, the alliance said there is no state program to assist them when they are released from prison, and many end up at local shelters. A ban might force the state to set up some kind of program or housing for offenders prior to their release.

Cote said he did not take part in a conference call on the subject a few days ago and can see both sides of the issue. But when pressed to take a position, Cote said he would be in favor of a ban — with a number of reservations and concerns.

"What is going to happen if every shelter in the commonwealth releases all of the Level 3 sex offenders?" he asked. "Where are they going to go? Who is going to take them in? ... Who will supervise them?"

Right now, there are two Level 3 offenders living at the Margin Street shelter, and one living nearby in one of the 22 apartments overseen by the Salem Mission, according to a Web site maintained by the state Sex Offender Registry Board.

There is one Level 3 sex offender living at River House in Beverly, according to the state agency.

The offenders living in the Salem and Beverly shelters have been convicted of various crimes, including rape and indecent assault and battery on a child.

Level 3 sex offenders are given that status because they have a high risk of reoffending and pose a high degree of danger, according to the Sex Offender Registry Board.

Some supervision

The Salem shelter, which recently changed its name to Lifebridge, does not do criminal background checks on its clients but is informed by police when a Level 3 offender moves in, Cote said.

Like other residents, sex offenders are assigned a case manager, provided with medical and other services, given a bed and meals, and required to observe an 8 p.m. curfew.

"So there is some ability to supervise that population," Cote said.

Cote said he is not aware of any recent or serious incidents involving Level 3 sex offenders at the Salem Mission.

"In my 31/2 years, I never had a situation here," he said.

Cote conceded that dealing with the offenders, and responding to concerns raised by their presence in the shelter, can drain resources and put an added stress on his staff.

The issue has been a hot topic for the Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association, which represents residents in the tightly packed neighborhood around the shelter.

"We've been looking at those numbers," said Jeff Cox, co-chairman of the group. "There are five Level 3's in the immediate neighborhood."

Cox also pointed out that Salem has more Level 3 offenders than all of the surrounding communities, other than Lynn.

Asked about the proposal to ban sex offenders, Cox said: "We're encouraged by whatever makes the neighborhood and city safer."

There are 17 Level 3 offenders living in Salem, according to the state Web site. That's as many serious sex offenders as the combined total living in nine area communities.

No other programs

Cote said he has been asked about sex offenders during meetings with neighbors and is aware it is an ongoing concern. He added, however, that the issue is a concern "in (other neighborhoods) and in every neighborhood across the country, unfortunately."

His support for the ban might be stronger, he said, if there were a program in place to serve offenders and provide them with a place to live.

Offenders often end up in shelters, he said, because they can't find a room to rent and can't pass criminal background checks for public housing.

"Ultimately, they end up homeless," he said. "And if they are now shut out from the homeless shelter network, there needs to be a mechanism in place" to help them find housing and other services. "They're not just going to disappear." ..Source.. Tom Dalton