Title
District Attorney recommending the Board consider adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance 4972 pertaining to Chapter 9.55 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code: Prohibition of Registered Sex Offenders from Entering County Parks, Schools, and Other Areas Where Children Congregate. Ordinance sponsored by Dr. Vickie Barber, Superintendent, El Dorado County Office of Education, John D'Agostini, Sheriff, El Dorado County, and Vern Pierson, District Attorney, El Dorado County. (Cont'd 2/7/12, Item 19)
Body
Background: Sex offenders pose a clear threat to the children residing or visiting in the community. Further, there are no guarantees that they will not re-offend. Convicted sex offenders are more likely than any other type of offender to re-offend for another sexual assault. Currently, state law does not adequately address the areas that sex offenders can frequent. Instead, state law only regulates where sex offenders can reside in relation to a limited number of specified areas. This Chapter is not intended to conflict with, but to supplement, state law by imposing restrictions on the locations which sex offenders may frequent in El Dorado County in order to ensure the safety of children.
Reason for Recommendation: It is anticipated that the County of El Dorado will be chosen as a location for the placement of numerous sexual offenders on their release from incarceration, and without an ordinance such as this, children in El Dorado County may unnecessarily be put at increased risk. In order to reduce the potential risk of harm to children in El Dorado County, there is a need to limit the opportunity for sex offenders to be in contact with unsuspecting children in locations that are primarily designed for use by, or are primarily used by children, namely: The grounds of public or private schools for children, school bus stops, centers or facilities that provide day care or children’s services, video arcades, public and private playgrounds and play fac...
Click here for full text