Ohio AWA Law Costing state MILLIONS!!!!

High Cost Of New Sex Offender Law

It's a new law which is supposed to keep you protected and, especially, protect your children from sexual predators. Ohio Senate Bill 10 just took effect last month. But critics say the law will not only cost taxpayers millions of dollars, but will actually make things more dangerous.

Local 12 Reporter Jeff Hirsh reports on how a well-intentioned plan may end up backfiring. It means more paperwork, more computer work. "It's tripled. The workload for us has tripled." And because of all that... Deputy Adam Breeze, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office: "No free time to do anything else.

If we need to look at some files, or write a warrant, or investigate some offenders, it really cracks down on our time, in that aspect, with the tripling of our registration with offenders." Ohio has had a sex offender registration law for a decade, making names and addresses public. But Senate Bill 10 pushes thousands of the lowest level offenders statewide into the highest level ... and adds years of reporting requirements. For example, under the old law, bottom tier offenders registered their addresses with the sheriff once a year for ten years. It went on a website, but neighbors were not notified by postcard.

Under Senate Bill 10, most of those offenders now have to register every 90 days for life, with postcard notification of neighbors every time they move. In Hamilton County alone, 600 low level offenders are now high level offenders... same people, no new crime, just a new label."The sheriff's office is not taking a position pro or con on the law. They have to enforce it. They're simply pointing out some of the unexpected implications. But there's another organization which definitely has a point of view." "It's political pandering." The Ohio Justice and Policy Center is suing to get Senate Bill 10 thrown out.

The suit challenges retroactively changing someone's offender status But the group also says upgrading low level offenders adds fear, without adding safety. Margie Slagle, Ohio Justice & Policy Center: "What the politicians don't tell folks is that most of the people on this list are not child molesters.""Now they're being told that they're the worst of the worst, and threats to children, and that's ludicrous." Until the lawsuits are resolved, Hamilton County is not sending out postcard notifications for low level offenders who've been upgraded.

But if the law stays the same, postage costs will more than triple to half a million dollars yearly, because hundreds of notification cards are sent out per offender. Jeff Hirsh, Local 12. Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and the sponsor of Senate Bill 10, Senator Steve Austria of suburban Dayton, have both said the measure is constitutional and will be effective in protecting children.

Well here we go with another feel good do nothing one size fits all law. Can you believe this Legislation was by co sponsored by "Mark Foley" of Florida?

Last time I checked he was not on the list.

This is a law that nobody in the state wanted to implement with the exception of our new Attorney General the former Ambulance chaser "Marc Dann" from Youngstown. You see its a win win situation for the politicians.

No matter if it destroys the lives of thousands of former offenders and their families who were upgraded from the lowest level, having to report only once a year to the new Tier 3 Predator status. Having to report every 90 days for life.

What did that sheriff say? Same person? No new crime? Just new Label!!!

I have been on the registry for 8 years and saw this writing on the wall years ago but this law is "SO FLAWED" that I believe it will be the one that finally gets struck Down by the US Supreme court.

The vote seeking politicians could care less they will have their soundbite come election time and they can always blame the court later.

In the meantime the Ohio courts are in meltdown mode clogged up with thousands of petitions contesting their re-classifications not to mention at least one class action suit that involves all 88 counties in the state.

When will someone finally look at the research and statistics that are NOW AVAILABLE that clearly show that Former RSO'S are the LEAST LIKELY group to commit ANY NEW CRIME??

This issue will effect ALL FIFTY STATES later this year as they have been threatened by the federal government with losing 10% of one federal grant allocated to law enforcement. Many states are already balking at the high cost of implementation.

This law is just another unfunded mandate that will most likely die or be radically changed when the thousands of lawsuits that have been filed topple the state budget.


http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4ce8a6c5-13a6-4d3c-bc17-08d20a8ee0b7