Press conference –
SOO’s within 1000’ feet of school property.
2-8-07
Ohio law provides that sex offenders cannot live
within 1000’ of a school premises, and it gives prosecutors and city
law directors the power to request an order that registered sex
offenders who reside within 1,000’ of a school premise relocate.
It is always a difficult task to keep track of every
sex offender that lives in Montgomery
County. As there are always citizens moving into and out of the area, every
sex offender that lives in
Montgomery County must be checked to make sure that they are not in
violation of this law. This is a very ‘fluid’ situation, as people
are always moving.
Whenever a sex offender registers his or her address
with the Sheriff’s Office, that address is cross-checked to make
sure it is in compliance with the law. If it is determined to be in
violation, the offender is served notice of their violation, in
person by a law enforcement officer. (often times the very same day)
My office has been working with the Sheriff’s Office
and the City of Dayton Prosecutor’s Office to assist the City of
Dayton in their efforts to have registered sex offenders comply with
the law.
In June 2005, there were a total of 231 registered
offenders in violation of the law in all of Montgomery
County. Of those, 153 were in the City of
Dayton. By November 2006, there
were only 43 left, all in the City of Dayton. Since November 2006,
10 have relocated, but 13 offenders moved into Dayton. Therefore,
there are a total of 46 offenders in violation of the law in all of
Montgomery County.
Today we filed 16 complaints, and within 30 days
expect to file 29 more. These complaints ask the court to issue an
order forcing these offenders to come into compliance with the law.
Laws such as this are passed by our legislature to
protect our children. We will not tolerate registered sex offenders
living near our schools. We will not tolerate endangering our
children. Our youth should be able to attend school and not fear
having a registered sex offender nearby.
