Sex-registry reformers open conference

9-8-2012 New Mexico:

Police stage show of force outside hotel

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - They're a group with a controversial message, reforming laws that deal with sex offenders. The Reform Sex Offender Laws organization is holding their annual national conference in Albuquerque starting Friday.

The message that the group is discussing is controversial enough that members from Albuquerque and New Mexico State Police are sticking around the hotel to ease public concern. The opening ceremony got underway just before 9 a.m. and cops were in the parking lot as early as 7:30 a.m.

This the fourth year for the conference and organizers say it's bringing together people who are lobbying for revisions to the law on registering sex offenders. They also say they are for making the laws smarter, not softer when it comes to someone who has paid for their past sexual offense.

In a packet released to the media, it states they'd like to see access to the sex offender registry just be for law enforcement agencies and they also encourage programs which would reduce sexual abuse before and after conviction.

"Even if a person was on a public registry, they're in the privacy of their home, so how is public notification preventing anything," asks Brenda Jones, executive director for the Reform Sex Offender Laws group.

News 13 tried to reach the general manager of the Ramada Hotel to see if there has been any backlash, but he was not available for comment. One of the workers did say they have not received any complaints from guests and the only cancellations they had were at the beginning of the week.

Albuquerque Police say they will be on hand along with other law enforcement throughout the weekend to continue to monitor the area. ..Source.. by David Romero