Law would ban sex offenders from living near youth recreation equipment

The insanity continues, and the public has elected these people.

2-28-2012 Alaska:

More question than answers have spun out of a House Judiciary Committee hearing that would allow judges to ban sex offenders from living at a residence with "outdoor recreational equipment" suitable for kids under 16.

JUNEAU -- More question than answers have spun out of a House Judiciary Committee hearing that would allow judges to ban sex offenders from living at a residence with "outdoor recreational equipment" suitable for kids under 16.

Rep. Pete Petersen, D-Anchorage, said he wrote HB 278 after he was told about a case in which a man stands accused of using a trampoline to lure three kids who claim they were abused. Everyone at the committee hearing was in agreement that Petersen's bill is well-intentioned, but an array of concerns was raised by committee members and people who testified on behalf of state organizations and interest groups.

Rep. Steve Thompson, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, felt like the wording was vague enough that it would create a lot of unintended problems. "What about snow machines, or basketballs?" said Thompson, R-Fairbanks. "Would those count?"

Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, was concerned that the bill might be redundant because judges can already ban certain living conditions if they believe it to be a fitting requirement. Another concern was less about the wording of the bill and struck more at the core of its approach.

Carmen Gutierrez, deputy commissioner of the Department of Corrections, said the recidivism rate is likely to increase if laws further limit housing options available to sex offenders.

She cited a survey of more than 4,000 parolees that found an unstable living situation to be the strongest predictor that sex offenders would violate conditions of their probationary release.

"By and large, restrictions cause offenders to live at homeless shelters, which often have 30-day limits," Gutierrez said after the hearing. "When individuals leave shelters and end up in homeless encampments, supervision becomes very difficult."

The bill was held pending amendments and another hearing. ..Source.. by The News Tribune