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Apr. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

New law on sex offenders poses challenges

Number of those who must be monitored to rise

By ANTONIO PLANAS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Lt. Adam Page of the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation, speaks Monday at a meeting held by the Southern Nevada Sex Offender Management Task Force at the Sawyer Building. For two years, the task force has been studying how agencies deal with sex offenders and their victims.
Photos by Gary Thompson.



Alexis Kennedy, a member of the Southern Nevada Sex Offender Management Task Force, speaks during a Monday meeting that tackled issues related to monitoring sex offinders.

A new state law that takes effect July 1 will dictate sex offenders be reclassified, boosting the number of Tier 3 offenders in Southern Nevada to estimates reaching as high as 2,000, up from 127.

The number of sex offenders who will be prohibited from being near areas where children gather such as parks and schools is estimated to increase also, to 150, from seven.


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    • But that doesn't mean there will be more serious sex offenders prowling the streets, said Lt. Adam Page of the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation. Under current state law, Tier 3 is the group deemed most likely to re-offend, but that will change come July, Page said.

    "The perception of what the tier levels mean is going to have to change," Page said. "Tier 3 no longer means highest risk to re-offend. Tier 3 is now crimes against children and sexual-assault based crimes."

    The reclassification will result in a larger number of offenders for police to track. There are 4,200 registered sex offenders in Clark County.

    The complexities and challenges of implementing Assembly Bill 579, a law that was intended to make sure Nevada followed a federal law unifying how states classify sex offenders, was one topic discussed Monday by members of the Southern Nevada Sex Offender Management Task Force at the Sawyer Building.

    The task force, created in 2006 with a $250,000 grant awarded to the Metropolitan Police Department, brought together officials from several agencies who studied Nevada's sex offender and how agencies deal with sex offenders and their victims.

    "We want to lock them up and throw away the key," said Alexis Kennedy, an assistant professor at UNLV's Department of Criminal Justice and a member of the task force. "But the reality is 95 percent of sex offenders go back to the community. Whether or not we want them back, they are returning."

    To help rehabilitate and find employment for sex offenders, the task force recommended the state manage a halfway house exclusively for sex offenders. The house would offer counselors and work-program aid. Three halfway houses in Clark County currently allow sex offenders, but other types of offenders may be housed in those too.

    Kennedy and other members of the task force said sex offenders must be employed and get professional rehabilitation; otherwise, they are more likely to re-offend.

    Some of the task force's other recommendations included abolishing good-time credits for sex offenders in prison and increasing to 10 years, from five, the mandatory probationary period for sex offenders.

    Pumping more money into local law enforcement to shorten backlogs in the DNA national database used by agencies to solve crimes was another recommendation.

    Members of the task force hope some of their recommendations will become law during the 2009 Legislature.

    Kennedy sought to dispel a sex offender myth. She said the belief that sex offenders are hiding behind bushes ready to ambush children could not be more wrong.

    Twelve percent of adult sex offenders victimize strangers, she said. That figure decreases to 3 percent for juvenile sex offenders, Kennedy said. Most sex offenders are acquaintances and family members of victims, Kennedy said.

    As for the reclassifying of sex offenders, Maggie McLetchie, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the new law has unintended consequences.

    The public will be endangered because law enforcement will have to track a larger bulk of offenders, taking the focus off people who are most likely to re-offend.

    Under current Nevada law, sex offenders are categorized under several factors, including the type of crime, the number of convictions, how old the victim is and whether the offender has been convicted for other crimes.

    Under the new law, certain crimes automatically will be classified as Tier 3.

    McLetchie said the law also will boost certain offenders to Tier 1 and Tier 2.

    "Nobody is clear on how to apply the law," McLetchie said. "But it is clear that a huge number of people are going to go back into the system, people deemed by the state who are not likely to re-offend."

    Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-4638.

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    Mitch wrote on April 04, 2008 12:16 PM: NRB your not entirely accurate nor innaccurate. Currently in Nevada, when you register as a sex offender, you are assigned a tier from 1-3. To determine your tier the sex offenders registry in Carson City has an assesment sheet with numerous questions (i.e. seriousness of crime, criminal history, etc.)and, depending on the answers, a number is assigned. If your total score is between 0-55 you're a tier 1, 56-112 a tier 2 and 113 -168 a tier 3. If you had multiple crimes and your total score was under 56 then you're a tier 1 and not automatically a tier 2 even if you have multiple crimes. But all that will change on July 1st when the Adam Walsh Act and NV Assembly Bill 579 becomes law. The State of Nevada will no longer use the current guidlines but those of the federal and the new AB 579. In effect the old grading system will no longer apply. Hundreds and possibly thousands of people that have never been posted on the Internet because they are a tier 1 offender will now have their lives exposed. Neighbors, friends co-workers that have lived peaceful, quiet lives for 10, 20 years or more and have rehabilitated themselves will now be known to many. Some deservedly so but others should not be exposed. The media fans the public hysteria and lumps everyone into one predatory category which isn't right . Think about this parents next time your neighbor is picking up your little one at carpool. Would you know if she had multiple DUI convictions or if her husband, who is the treasurer at AYSO or t-ball was in prison for embezzelment or bank robbery? Shouldn't we also post them on the Internet?


    NRB wrote on April 02, 2008 01:11 PM: Michelle, you are wrong. You only get put on the web for tier level 2 offenses which are mulitple crimes. Get your facts straight.


    Banner wrote on April 02, 2008 07:55 AM: Registered Sex Offender DOES NOT work.

    "TimeRanger wrote on April 01, 2008 12:25 PM:
    Just remember, that in some locations you can be classified as a "sex offender" for the simple act of taking a leak alongside the road. Relieve yourself and get caught, and you can carry the "offender" classification for life. "

    What's the harm? he is innocent and didn't do anything harm to other children??? It should not be offender. He just simple had to relief himself. Whoever invented Registered Sex Offender Law is beyond stupid.

    What about nude beach? do they apply to registered sex offender law? Of course not! They're innoncent and enjoy freedom themselves.


    Kriste wrote on April 01, 2008 09:13 PM: Maybe Michelle has never been a survivor of sexual abuse. As for the new law, there are always going to be bugs in the system but what it comes down to is protecting our children from these sick people who prowel the streets and the internet looking for children to satisfy their disgusting fantasies.
    We as parents are responsible for knowing who our children are talking to on line and in our neighborhoods. I know that it is hard sometimes to do that but inevitably parents are their childrens best protection against these kind of people. Especially our younger children who can not defend themselves.


    vegasmom wrote on April 01, 2008 05:20 PM: SO PEOPLE GO TO JAIL TO JAIL FOR WEED, YET THEY GET TO WALK THE STREETS AS A SEX OFFENDER.

    YOU CAN GET ON THIS LIST FOR SOME STUPID THINGS! I HAVE MOONES PEOPLE BEFORE.


    Herb wrote on April 01, 2008 04:06 PM: Sex offenders should be required to wear a shirt everythime they leave the house that says "warning I am a sex offender".


    mehow wrote on April 01, 2008 02:15 PM: I think that those who commit sexual crimes against children should be castrated and have their hands cut off so that they cannot commit further violent crimes as a result of their frustration. Similarly tough punishments against rapist and others that like to victimize and destroy the lives of others may actually serve as a deterrant. If only we were 100% that those we convict were guilty, we could really make an impact.


    Maria wrote on April 01, 2008 12:37 PM: Considering the amount of people being arrested daily due to high traffic of child pornography, I can't believe anyone would waive-off the idea that we need stricter laws regarding sex offenders. People act as though they're slapping the title on any Tom, Dick or Harry.

    That is simply not the case. One doesn't deserve a simple slap on the wrist for a "momentary lapse of judgement." People live their entire lives without worrying about being considered a sex offender, because they simply DONT CROSS THE LINE. Find a bathroom if you have to urinate. They're EVERYWHERE. Don't assume someone wants a physical relationship if you're interested in them, and by all means, if you have no business around children, STAY AWAY FROM THEM.


    TimeRanger wrote on April 01, 2008 12:25 PM: Just remember, that in some locations you can be classified as a "sex offender" for the simple act of taking a leak alongside the road. Relieve yourself and get caught, and you can carry the "offender" classification for life.

    It is getting to the point where a dating couple needs to draft a legal consent agreement before they kiss goodnight on the front porch.


    scotty boy wrote on April 01, 2008 11:52 AM: geez its like you can't even get caught with your pants down anymore without ending up on someones stupid list.


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