Sex Offenders and Halfway Houses in Community Safe Zone Bill Passes House
Air Date:01/24/2012
The State House of Representatives passed a bill that allows a registered sex offender who is on probation to live in an assigned half-way house or supervised living center within a community safety zone. That means within 500 feet of a school, public park, playground or swimming pool.
State Representative Peggy Gibson of Huron says the legislative proposal allows probationers that are registered sex offenders to receive supervision by the department of corrections.
"This proposal is a recognition of the need to utilize these same services and resources by the unified judicial system when supervising probationers in need of these after care services," Gibson says. "Current law would restrict the ability of the UJS to utilize these services which in some cases may not be readily available elsewhere."
Gibson says it is illegal for a paroled sex offender to be unsupervised. The Bill now enters the Senate.
By Marcus Brooks
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