State lawmaker looks at break with federal sex offender guidlines
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Major changes could be on the horizon for Missouri’s sex offender registry.
The state representative leading a committee that is looking into ways of cutting down the size of the state’s sex offender registry says it may make sense for the state to detach itself from federal sex registry rules.
Rep. Rodney Schad, R-Versailles, said Wednesday that large numbers of people on the state sex offenders registry are there due to federal rules that are more stringent than state laws. Schad said the result is hundreds, maybe thousands, of people on the sex registry do not have to be on that list. Schad said people on the list for less serious crimes aren’t able to find jobs and wind up costing the state through public assistance.
“We have some people that are absolutely no risk to society, to children, or to anyone else that are burdened with this label of ‘sex offender’”, Schad said.
Schad thinks that by allowing certain sex offenders to have a route off the official registry, the state will be able to save money — enough to overcome federal grant money that would be cut off if the state bucks federal sex offender statute mandates.
During testimony before Schad’s committee this week, Highway Patrol Captain Tim McGrail, who oversees the state’s sex offender registry, said the state would stand to lose $500,000 a year in federal money if the laws are changed the way Schad is proposing.
Schad thinks it’s possible the state could recoup that money in savings on state programs for offenders who could come off the list.
There are currently more than 12,000 people on Missouri’s sex offenders’ list. Schad said that list has grown dramatically in the last four years as the state tries to stay in line with increasingly stringent federal guidelines.
“We’ve grown in the last four years, about 4,000 offenders on the registry,” said Schad. “That’s just unacceptable. We may have ruined another 4,000 lives.”
Schad’s committee may hold more hearings in other areas of the state as it prepares to draft legislation for the upcoming legislation session. Last year, Schad sponsored a bill that would have made changes to state rules on who must register for the sex offenders list and for how long. The bill received overwhelming support in the House of Representatives, but died without a committee hearing in the State Senate.
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Posted by Dick Aldrich on October 20, 2011. Filed under Regulation.
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Missouri could be the first AWA compliant state to reject the new law. It is about time someone changed their minds. It took the state of Iowa four long years to overturn residency restrictions after they saw how these laws were destroying lives. Do the right thing for once, Missouri, and abolish the Adamn Walsh Act.
Lose $ ½Million in Federal funding, or lose $MILLIONS more in following registrants you need not be worried about? Which makes more accounting sense? Public assistance is given to the offenders who can not find work. So it seems a bit of “borrow from Peter to pay Paul.” Follow the money trail. Other states have figured this out already. Check into the states which are (purposely) NOT in compliance with the Adam Walsh Act, and check their reasons why. About time some Congressperson stands up for the reality of the Federal Laws. (See the Ohio Supreme Court Decision: State v. Williams 2011-ohio-4474. It’s only a matter of time before the whole knee-jerk laws are repealed because of costs. Who actually benefits from these laws… GPS companies. Prison Industries. Do some research PAST what the news is telling you… If you know, or are related to someone who is persecuted under these laws, you are shaking your head in agreement. Until Mr. and Mrs. Public are personally affected by these laws, they just are in a “feel good” mood. Wait until they are involved. Then it is too late. The dilution of the registry from those who the public should be worried, or even highly concerned had paid its toll on more than just more offenders. It’s their families also. Many Romeo/Juliet, or public urination offenders are on the list. Are you afraid of that older man who is a bit incontinent, on a long drive who pulled over on the side of the highway and relieved himself behind the tree out of sight? Are you afraid he’s going to urinate on your kids? That’s the problem with the registry in general. EVERYONE is on it. The 40 yr old man (a Romeo) who is married (to his Juliet now) with 4 kids living next door to you, is a ChildMolesterRapistMurderer (one word in fear) by being on the registry. His crime was statutory, not any force involved, just against the law at the time. His “crime” is being paid forever now, not forever paid. Learn more about who will profit from all of this. I bet you conclude that the Sheriff’s or which ever agency is in charge of administering the registry will be trumpeting the loudest to keep it. More Overtime. Follow the money trail. Thanks again for a Legislator who understands reality.
the sex offender laws do more harm than good. 1) take the non-dangerous people off the internet. how do we do that? find out who is dangerous and who isn’t. hold hearings every 3 yrs to evaluate sex offenders and give them an opportunity to get off registry.
2) shorten the length of time on registry for 1st initial offense. cap it at ten yrs. for new offenses. 25 yrs for statutory rape level 1 or victims 12 and under or with violence. thank you. change cori to ten yrs for criminal backgrounds for 1st offense. privatize the registry and only post level 3 sex offenders on the internet. thank you
if a sex offender has consensual sex one time with a girl between ages of 13-15 and hasn’t committed a new sex offense in ten yeaars, can we take him off the registry? can we take his information off CORI? can we give ex-felons a 2nd chance in life in this wonderful country?
I wonder why this sheriff is throwing around goldilock numbers? Maybe it’s because he wants the money for the “War on Drugs” instead of sex offender registry?
See this article, which is from a conference in this state, where a police officer actually said the above. Yes, he actually said they need the grant money for a never ending war on drugs instead of sex offender laws.
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2011/10/mo-house-commity-hearing.html
This is good news. Other states that caved in to pressure from the federal government to adopt measures that are not supported by evidence-based research are regretting it and rethinking it. Laws dealing with sexual offenses and sex offenders must be laws that protect children and serve communities. The current laws do just the opposite. Thank you, Missouri, for this action.
Our son just completed two years of probabation for 2nd degree Child Molestation, under statue # 566.068. Because of the offense he lost his job, his place to live and moved to another town. He still can not get a job because he is on the Registry. He was offered two jobs but the offers were withdrawn when they found out he was on the registry.
What I did was wrong but very mild to what others do and are still walking around. I touched a young girl in a improrer place in a car with 2 other adults in it a the time. I turned my self in and spent 2yrs. on probation and now done with that and I still can’t get a job or medical ins. so i’m on state medical plan and have to live with my parents because I can’t live in public houseing.I have not ever been in trouble before with the law so why do I have to bee on this list forever. I paid my debt and GOD has for given me so why can’t I have a second chance.
I regret I did’t think harder I was new to the state of missouri so I turn to the internet dating sites I was never the type to walk up to a women but I talk this women for sometime I was 21 in her profile it said she was 18 on the site I did’t think much about it becuse I was trusting well I meet her had a few dates then we had sex it was essential she looks 18. she went home and I get a knock on my door its the cops I remmber being in the jail and hearing her and her mom and dad saying they did’t want to do nothing with me becuse they knew she was missing around with alot more guys but the police pick up the changes. wend the cops talk to me I told them everything becuse I was always told working with the police would make it better I was scard becuse I never had even a parking ticket before. when I was in the county jail I was waiting for my court date but I never got to go in front of the judge my public defender told me I had two choices get a rape change and do prison and never get out alive or get a child molestation change and do a year in jail and probation I did’t think I could do prison becuse I was young. so I took the molestation change I lost my dream to be a cop cant get a job anywhere I’m 30 now I have to sign up every 90 days and and be reminded from my mistake. I feel like my only crime was trusting so now I ID ever person I’m with I should had some feeling she was young but I did and Im paying for it I hvae to deal with moms and dad in my small town pulling back then kids in the stores I love kids it hurts be to think people see me the way they do my probation officer told me alot of times to admit I like under ages kids and I would not and to tell my self I’m not like the rest of everybody in this world.
Sorry mispelled my last comment. I regret I did’t think harder I was new to the state of missouri so I turn to the internet dating sites I was never the type to walk up to a women but I talk this women for sometime I was 21 in her profile it said she was 18 on the site I did’t think much about it becuse I was trusting well I meet her had a few dates then we had sex it was essential she looks 18. she went home and I get a knock on my door its the cops I remmber being in the jail and hearing her and her mom and dad saying they did’t want to do nothing with me becuse they knew she was missing around with alot more guys but the police pick up the changes. when the cops talk to me I told them everything becuse I was always told working with the police would make it better I was scard becuse I never had even a parking ticket before. when I was in the county jail I was waiting for my court date but I never got to go in front of the judge my public defender told me I had two choices get a rape change and do prison and never get out alive or get a child molestation change and do a year in jail and probation I did’t think I could do prison becuse I was young. so I took the molestation charge I lost my dream to be a cop cant get a job anywhere I’m 30 now I have to sign up every 90 days and and be reminded from my mistake. I feel like my only crime was trusting so now I ID ever person I’m with I should had some feeling she was young but I didn’t and Im paying for it I have to deal with moms and dad in my small town pulling back their kids in the stores I love kids it hurts to think people see me the way they do my probation officer told me alot of times to admit I like under ages kids and I would not and to tell my self I’m not like the rest of everybody in this world.