Lawmakers look into pedophile-free safety zones

Niagara County lawmakers are considering a bipartisan plan that would make it a crime for registered sex offenders to linger within 1,000 feet of a school, park, child care facility or other public and private location frequented by children.



If approved, the so-called “Niagara County Pedophile-Free Child Safety Zone Act” would allow convicted sex offenders found in violation of the “Safety Zone” standards to be charged with Class B misdemeanors, punishable by fines of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to three months in jail. Under the proposed law, repeat offenders could be hit with class A misdemeanors that carry fines of up to $1,000 and sentences of up to one year in jail.



“We are trying to limit the opportunities for children to be victimized,” said one of the bill’s co-sponsor’s, Legislator Paul Wojtaszek, R-North Tonawanda. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by Legislators Jason Cafarella, D-Niagara Falls, and John Ceretto, R- Lewiston, notes that there exists a “heightened potential” for repeat offenses against minors when convicted sex offenders “reside, have employment or frequent” areas where children are likely to congregate.



Under the proposed law, registered sex offenders would be forbidden from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of areas and facilities that would provide them with “easy access to potential victims.” The restriction would be lifted in instances where convicted sex offenders have completed sentencing and are no longer required to register under the state’s Sex Offender Registration Act.



“It’s not overkill,” Wojtaszek said. “We’re trying to show that we are being proactive, but we’re also trying to be reasonable.” The measure is expected to be presented for review by the Legislature on Tuesday at which time a request could be made to set a public hearing date on the proposal.

E-mail alerts if sex offender moves nearby

You can now receive e-mail alerts when a sexual offender or predator moves into your neighborhood or near your child's school.

Florida law enforcement leaders say they think the new technology will help protect children.

He says the system gives Floridians the information they need to track sex offenders in their communities and know where the potential threats are.

The Web site, at www.flsexoffender.net, allows you to sign up for e-mail alerts notifying you when a sexual offender or predator moves into any area that you're interested in.

Yukon schools install security system

YUKON — Yukon School District officials have installed a new security system in all their schools aimed at keeping students and teachers safe.
Fast Pass is an electronic identity and visitor management system that checks if visitors to a school are listed on the National Sex Offender list, Assistant Superintendent Kent Mathers said.
Mathers said the system will do a lot to improve security districtwide.
"Our number one priority is the safety of our students and our staff,” he said. "Unfortunately, we live in times when increased security measures are absolutely necessary.”
Visitors to any school will now be asked to present their driver's license or other government-issued identification when they check in, Mathers said. School officials then will scan in the identification.
Within seconds, the information will be checked for several items, including if the identification card has been tampered with or is a fake.
Mathers said the system only will check to see if people are registered sex offenders. It will not check to see if they have any other types of criminal charges against them.
If a visitor is cleared, the system will print out a badge that will note whether the person is a visitor, vendor or volunteer, officials said. It also will list what areas the person is allowed to enter.
If a visitor is listed on the sex offender list, the person will be asked to leave, officials said. The school then will notify law enforcement about the attempted entry.
MAPS for Kids funds paid for the $60,000 system, Mathers said.
The system is only the first of several planned districtwide security improvements, Mathers said. Officials hope next to update the security surveillance systems at each school, he said.
The new surveillance system still is in the planning phase, he said. District officials have not yet discussed how the new surveillance systems will be paid for or when they will be installed.

Convicted Sex Offender Gets Accused of Exposing Himself to Six Year Old On School Playground

A convicted sex offender gets in trouble with the law once again. Hamilton County Investigators say Terry Beason exposed himself to a six-year-old playing at the Falling Water Elementary School playground last Friday.
Colleen Holland, Parent, "He shouldn't be in the area where the children are."
Parents express relief that a suspect got caught but there's lingering concern.
Holland, "The fact that he was that close. There could be others yeah. That definitely bothers me as a parent.