Published: Sunday, October 30, 2005
New sex offender law proposed
Monroe officials want tougher rules, though no high-risk offenders currently live in the city.
MONROE - City officials are speeding up efforts to prevent sex offenders from living near places where children gather.
"This is a right and proper act. We're not the one who made this necessary," City Council member Mitch Ruth said.
On Wednesday, the council will discuss and may adopt a new law that would bar level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, child care centers or parks.
Level 2 and 3 offenders are considered to have a moderate to high risk of reoffending.
None of those sex offenders now live within the city limits, said Ruth, who sponsored the ordinance with Councilman Chad Minnick.
Ruth, a former sergeant for the state Department of Corrections, said he would like the council to adopt the law before sex offenders move in.
Sex offenders often victimize families and neighbors, Ruth said. The law could help keep them from getting acquainted with children in neighborhoods.
"I prefer to err on the side of caution," he said.
The proposed law would cite violators for a civil infraction, with a possible $250 a day in fines. Those who knowingly rent or lease housing to sex offenders would have to pay up to $5,000 in fines and/or serve up to a year in jail.
The law is similar to one the Issaquah City Council passed in August.
Snohomish County currently has 1,421 registered sex or kidnapping offenders - including 157 level 2 offenders and 82 level 3 offenders, sheriff's detective Dave Coleman said. The state as a whole has about 18,900 registered sex offenders, Coleman said.
He said earlier that stricter measures such as the Issaquah law could reduce available housing for sex offenders and add stress to their lives, which could be the first step toward another offense.
That's hogwash, Ruth said.
"Sex offenders have created this need (for the new ordinance). We're responding to this need," he said.
Councilman Tony Balk, a father of four children and a former foster parent, supports the law.
"If we can separate (level 2 and 3 sex offenders) from kids, more distance will be better," he said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@ heraldnet.com.
"This is a right and proper act. We're not the one who made this necessary," City Council member Mitch Ruth said.
On Wednesday, the council will discuss and may adopt a new law that would bar level 2 and 3 sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, child care centers or parks.
Level 2 and 3 offenders are considered to have a moderate to high risk of reoffending.
None of those sex offenders now live within the city limits, said Ruth, who sponsored the ordinance with Councilman Chad Minnick.
Ruth, a former sergeant for the state Department of Corrections, said he would like the council to adopt the law before sex offenders move in.
Sex offenders often victimize families and neighbors, Ruth said. The law could help keep them from getting acquainted with children in neighborhoods.
"I prefer to err on the side of caution," he said.
The proposed law would cite violators for a civil infraction, with a possible $250 a day in fines. Those who knowingly rent or lease housing to sex offenders would have to pay up to $5,000 in fines and/or serve up to a year in jail.
The law is similar to one the Issaquah City Council passed in August.
Snohomish County currently has 1,421 registered sex or kidnapping offenders - including 157 level 2 offenders and 82 level 3 offenders, sheriff's detective Dave Coleman said. The state as a whole has about 18,900 registered sex offenders, Coleman said.
He said earlier that stricter measures such as the Issaquah law could reduce available housing for sex offenders and add stress to their lives, which could be the first step toward another offense.
That's hogwash, Ruth said.
"Sex offenders have created this need (for the new ordinance). We're responding to this need," he said.
Councilman Tony Balk, a father of four children and a former foster parent, supports the law.
"If we can separate (level 2 and 3 sex offenders) from kids, more distance will be better," he said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@ heraldnet.com.
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