REGISTRY RESTRICTIONS
THE PROBLEM
Child predators and pedophiles are not prohibited from being present at or near parks, daycares, and other locations where children are known to frequent.
Non-violent offenders with no juvenile victim have the same school-related restrictions as pedophiles.
Registry restrictions should be different for child predators versus those involved in statutory or non-violent offenses.
Residence restrictions have been proven to be ineffective.
THE SOLUTION
W.S. §6-2-320. Prohibited access to school facilities by adult sex offenders should be significantly altered in its application:
Restrictions to schools and youth should only be limited to sex offenders with juvenile victims. The restrictions are unwarranted and do not deter offenders with adult victims.
Reduce residence restrictions from 1,000 to 500 feet or less. The effectiveness and need of these restrictions are already highly questionable and prevent sex offenders from finding suitable housing.
Restrictions could be expanded so that sex offenders with juvenile victims cannot be present at parks, daycares, bus stops, swimming pools or recreation facilities.
ANALYSIS
Currently, no offender can live within 1,000 feet of a school. Offenders cannot be on school grounds when school is in session or school activities are taking place unless their own child is involved. Other than various restrictions of when an offender must report to their local sheriff’s office, the only significant sex offender restrictions impact access to school facilities.
These residence restrictions are highly controversial. As stated throughout, there is no data showing these restrictions help and are effective in preventing anything. The intent is to prevent stranger danger sex assaults against children which rarely occur. These residence restrictions often make it difficult for a sex offender to find a suitable residence they can afford.
Saying “tough luck” regarding this problem is not going to cut it. If we want sex offenders to reform, they need to have jobs and housing or they are doomed. If we want to track and know their whereabouts, they need to have a roof over their head instead of being homeless.
I can understand someone not wanting a registered sex offender to live directly next to or across the street from a school. The residence restriction could be cut down to 500 or even 300 feet which would still keep offenders from being right next to schools while increasing their living options.
These current restrictions do little to protect children from the most dangerous predators. The restrictions do not prevent high risk offenders from being at other locations where children might congregate, such as parks, daycares, libraries, swimming pools, recreation facilities, etc.
The current restrictions are so ineffective, no sex offender can go watch a high school football game where adults are present, and children are safe. However, a high-risk offender is allowed on school property when school is not in session. That offender could go to a school playground when school is out of session and children are playing unattended with no adults present. These restrictions simply make no sense.
In summary, the current sex offender registration system in Wyoming does too little to protect children from predators and is overly restrictive on low-risk offenders. It is a one-size fits all approach that serves no one well.