Lawmakers debate notifications for juvenile sex offenders in school

1-27-2011 Washington:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- If a juvenile sex offender is attending a school, who should know about it? The principal? Teachers? Parents?

Lawmakers discussed the tough issue during a public hearing in Olympia Wednesday afternoon. Rep. Kirk Pearson is pushing a bill that would require notification of parents, staff and adult students when a juvenile sex offender attends a school. Under current law, only principals and those who supervise the student are notified.

"Notification like this is powerful," Pearson testified. "When you have information like this out, a juvenile sex offender knows they're being watched by people."

But opponents of the bill say such broad notification would make it difficult for the juvenile sex offenders.

"They would absolutely be bullied," said attorney Michele Shaw, who specializes in juvenile sex offender cases.

The focus should be on rehabilitation, Shaw argued, and recovery would be difficult if students learn about a juvenile sex offender's past.

"It would set hysteria and panic into place with parents," she said. "We would essentially have to create a school for juvenile sex offenders."

The recidivism rate for juvenile sex offenders is lower than the rate for adult sex offenders, Shaw said. The re-offense rate for juveniles is anywhere between 3 and 14 percent, according to national studies, said the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

Representative Pearson thinks anti-bullying laws would protect juvenile sex offenders from harassment.

During Wednesday's hearing, lawmakers also heard from people who favor greater notification for teachers and staff, including secretaries and bus drivers. Others expressed concern about having school officials, rather than law enforcement, notify parents about sex offenders. ..Source.. by JOE FRYER / KING 5 News