HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, and state
Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, welcomed the Judiciary Committee’s unanimous
vote last week to approve legislation that will protect families from
registered sexual offenders.
Crisco and Klarides have championed
Senate Bill 432 to give municipal leaders the ability to better secure the
safety of their towns’ families.
“I’m happy that my colleagues agree so strongly that this is a
supremely important bill,” said Crisco. “Families deserve to know if they
are living in a neighborhood that is anything less than secure.
This bill will
enable municipal leaders and parents to make informed decisions to protect
their children and families.”
“It’s important for municipal leaders to understand the changing makeup
of their towns so they can keep parents informed and enable them to take the
proper precautions to keep children safe,” Klarides said.
“Town and city
leaders are expected to take responsibility for public safety, and this
sensible legislation will give them the opportunity to make residents safer and
more knowledgeable.”
S.B. 432 will require the state’s Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection to provide notice to the chief executive officer
of a municipality upon the release of a registered sexual offender into such
municipality.
The bill would give the municipal CEO discretion to inform residents of
the neighborhood so that parents could take appropriate actions with respect to
the safety of their children.
Crisco and Klarides advocated for the bill in response to a
recent situation in the Town of Woodbridge. A Group Home in the town is home to
two sex offenders. One was convicted of four felony sex offense crimes, two of
which involved young girls age 5 and 7.
The other offender was convicted of two
felony crimes involving sexual assault of a child.
Within two blocks of the Group Home live families with 28-30 children,
ranging in age from 1 to 17. School-age children get on and off the bus
mornings and afternoons and walk to their homes.
The bus stop for one of the children was located directly in front of
the Group Home. It was relocated at the request of the parent once he learned
of the residents of the Home.
However, it was several years before the parents learned this information and were able to take appropriate action.
However, it was several years before the parents learned this information and were able to take appropriate action.
This legislation would have made a difference by giving the municipal
CEO the information necessary to inform families of the situation, and better
secure the safety of these children.
S.B. 432 heads to the Senate where it will await action.
This is taken from a press release from the offices of Crisco and Klarides.
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