Sexual Predators Not Welcome
Sex offenders ordinance hits home
By Robbie Schwartz
The Loganville Tribune
Published June 9, 2006 (written after City Council work session, 6/5/06 - AJ)
LOGANVILLE — As city officials took a first look at the proposed sexual offenders and predators ordinance, City Manager Bill Jones said the measure hit close to home.
“We have gone back and forth on this for some time. This is difficult for me — my family became a victim of this,” Jones said during a work session Monday. “I spent (last) Friday with the GBI and the FBI and we learned that someone my son and his wife knew was a sexual predator from outside of this state. This crime is far- reaching.
“We need to pass this. You need to hear this from me that this affected my family and this ordinance is extremely important.”
The city’s proposed sexual offenders and sexual predators ordinance goes above and beyond that of the state, which prohibits any offender from loitering, working or living within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, school, church or areas where minors congregate.
Snellville was the first and now Loganville may become the second to essentially ban a sexual offender from living inside the city limits by adding to the state law.
As does Snellville’s, the Loganville ordinance states that it will be unlawful for any sex crime offender to live within 2,500 feet of any school, designated public school bus stop, day care center, park, playground or other place where children regularly congregate, as measured by respective property lines.
“This strengthens the state statute,” City Attorney Robyn Webb said, adding that the ordinance attempts to address a national problem as well as the likelihood that sexual offenders will repeat their crime.
Violators of the law would face a $500 fine and no more than 60 days in jail for a first offense.
The proposed ordinance also includes that property owners are not allowed to willingly rent property to a known sexual offender, establishes a fine and imprisonment for violators and includes exceptions to the law, for those already living within the city limits.
Under the ordinance, those who already live inside the city limits will be grandfathered in with the ultimate direction of the law to keep new predators from moving in.
Councilman Mark Kiddoo asked if the additional 1,500 feet was truly necessary, asking if there were pockets of the city not covered by the state law taking into consideration the many bus stops as well as churches and other areas covered by existing law.
“We are 80 percent residential,” Kiddoo said. “Are there pockets not covered by the state law? If the state law covers all of the city, it seems that we are just piling on something not necessary.”
Questions were also raised about what constitutes an area where children regularly congregate. It was later decided the state definition would be applied.
The council will have a second reading of the ordinance at its July 13 meeting.
By Robbie Schwartz
The Loganville Tribune
Published June 9, 2006 (written after City Council work session, 6/5/06 - AJ)
LOGANVILLE — As city officials took a first look at the proposed sexual offenders and predators ordinance, City Manager Bill Jones said the measure hit close to home.
“We have gone back and forth on this for some time. This is difficult for me — my family became a victim of this,” Jones said during a work session Monday. “I spent (last) Friday with the GBI and the FBI and we learned that someone my son and his wife knew was a sexual predator from outside of this state. This crime is far- reaching.
“We need to pass this. You need to hear this from me that this affected my family and this ordinance is extremely important.”
The city’s proposed sexual offenders and sexual predators ordinance goes above and beyond that of the state, which prohibits any offender from loitering, working or living within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, school, church or areas where minors congregate.
Snellville was the first and now Loganville may become the second to essentially ban a sexual offender from living inside the city limits by adding to the state law.
As does Snellville’s, the Loganville ordinance states that it will be unlawful for any sex crime offender to live within 2,500 feet of any school, designated public school bus stop, day care center, park, playground or other place where children regularly congregate, as measured by respective property lines.
“This strengthens the state statute,” City Attorney Robyn Webb said, adding that the ordinance attempts to address a national problem as well as the likelihood that sexual offenders will repeat their crime.
Violators of the law would face a $500 fine and no more than 60 days in jail for a first offense.
The proposed ordinance also includes that property owners are not allowed to willingly rent property to a known sexual offender, establishes a fine and imprisonment for violators and includes exceptions to the law, for those already living within the city limits.
Under the ordinance, those who already live inside the city limits will be grandfathered in with the ultimate direction of the law to keep new predators from moving in.
Councilman Mark Kiddoo asked if the additional 1,500 feet was truly necessary, asking if there were pockets of the city not covered by the state law taking into consideration the many bus stops as well as churches and other areas covered by existing law.
“We are 80 percent residential,” Kiddoo said. “Are there pockets not covered by the state law? If the state law covers all of the city, it seems that we are just piling on something not necessary.”
Questions were also raised about what constitutes an area where children regularly congregate. It was later decided the state definition would be applied.
The council will have a second reading of the ordinance at its July 13 meeting.
posted by Austin O. Jones | 11:00 PM
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