7-10-2012 Oklahoma:
Our View: Oklahoma's new counterproductive law fails to protect community by putting hundreds of sex offenders out on the streets.
Local sex offenders are homeless and out on the streets July 1 as a result of SB 852, a bill authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond.
Hands Up Ministries, an Oklahoma City ministry that housed 200 sex offenders on its 6-acre mobile home community and provided counseling services, was specifically targeted in the bill, which made it unlawful for two or more registered sex offenders to live together. Supporters of the bill maintain the bill isn’t “an attempt to evict anyone,” but to “clarify the intended purpose of the sex order statute,” Oklahoma City Police Capt. Patrick Stewart said.
Instead, the bill did evict people — at least 61 men and women had been living in tents since July 1 at Hands Up. Instead of allowing the offenders to stay in one place, the bill scattered many of them throughout the community, where they're homeless and more likely to commit crimes of survival in search of shelter and food.
The intent of the law was to lower recidivism rates — relapses into criminal sexual behavior — and protect community members. However, it does the opposite.
Limits housing options
The bill is outrageous and unfair. It specifically targets Hands Up by creating housing restrictions and outlawing “manufactured homes, mobile homes, trailers, and recreational vehicles” in section four of the bill. It allows only “multi-unit structures” that provide independent facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation as acceptable dwellings. ..Source.. by The Daily Editorial Board
Showing posts with label HandsUp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HandsUp. Show all posts
July 10, 2012
EDITORIAL: Counterproductive sex offender law doesn't protect community
March 29, 2011
Bill threatens Oklahoma City mobile home park for sex offenders
There is no doubt that this bill violates the constitutional "Right of Association" a First Amendment Right. U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions. Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.3-29-2011 Oklahoma:
Despite the protest of the founder of an Oklahoma City mobile home park that provides housing for more than 250 men who are registered sex offenders, a House panel approved a measure Monday that he said would put his Christian prison ministry out of business and put about 100 convicted sex offenders out on the streets.
About 40 residents of Hand Up Ministries watched as the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 852 by a vote of 8-4. It now goes to the full House.
Rep. Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon, said the Oklahoma City Police Department requested the bill to clarify an existing state law that was intended to keep convicted sexual offenders from living together.
David Nicholas, founder, president and executive director of Hands Up Ministries, said three sexual offenders are placed in three-bedroom mobile homes at his mobile home park, 2130 SE 59. He said 273 live at the park.
Nichols said convicted sex offenders can’t reside in most of Oklahoma City. State laws ban them from living within 2,000 feet of schools, day care centers and city parks.
Residents are required to have jobs and to get regular treatment, he said. They pay $400 a month to live in the mobile homes.
SB 852 would define a multiunit structure in which registered sex offenders are allowed to reside to mean a structure with multiple residential units that provide independent living facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation within each individual unit.
In a telephone interview, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty said his agency is not trying to put the mobile home park out of business.
“We are trying to define what we think the true intent of the law was when it was passed and that was for one dwelling, one sex offender.” ..Source.. MICHAEL MCNUTT
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