Legislation To Tighten Community Notification About Sex Offenders Passes Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dina Titus

May 11, 2005 775-684-6504

Legislation To Tighten Community Notification About Sex Offenders Passes Senate

Legislation sponsored by Senator Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) to strengthen community notification when a sex offender is released from prison unanimously passed the Senate today (May 11).

Titus said she introduced SB 341 when an extensive investigation last year by the Reno Gazette-Journal revealed that sex offenders are coming to Nevada because they feel that they can blend in. While many states have enacted sex offender registration acts, some state laws are tougher than others, and some states have more resources than others to enforce the laws.

"The recent tragedy in Florida and the all too frequent headlines throughout the nation underscore the need for immediate action," Titus said. "We cannot allow Nevada to become a haven for released sex offenders."

Titus went on to say, "The statistics are frightening; 39% of sex offenders fail to register and Nevada has the fifth worst record in the nation for sex offenders who fail to obey the law. This situation cannot be tolerated."

Titus said reforms in the bill include adding addresses to the notification rather than just zip codes; having released convicted sex offenders renew their driver's license annually; differentiating between the types of sex crimes by severity on the notification website; and keeping offenders in the registry for a minimum of 10 years and then removing their names only if they have not offended again and have been in compliance with the registry requirements.

"SB 341 was introduced after extensive consultation with child advocates and law enforcement to ensure that we strengthen our laws and better protect the citizens of our state," Titus concluded.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/titus/docs/05_11_2004_SexOffRealese.htm