posted by Joe Polk at 7:35 AM /
Allegheny County Council yesterday passed a law prohibiting registered sexual offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a school or child care center, public park or playground.
Council unanimously approved the ordinance that was introduced in June by Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, after a group of Mt. Lebanon residents, angered to learn that a registered sex offender was living near an elementary school in the Sunset Hills neighborhood, pressed for more restrictions.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07297/827964-85.stm
Council unanimously approved the ordinance that was introduced in June by Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, after a group of Mt. Lebanon residents, angered to learn that a registered sex offender was living near an elementary school in the Sunset Hills neighborhood, pressed for more restrictions.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07297/827964-85.stm
Labels: councilman vince gastgeb, megan's law, sex offenders
11 Comments:
2500 Feet is a half-mile. Is there a residence anywhere in the county that is not within a half-mile of one of those things? Certainly there are none in Mt. Lebanon.
And what does this mean: This law does not affect registered sex offenders or sexually violent predators already living within the 2,500-foot buffer zone.
Jefferson there are certainly homes and apartments within Mt. Lebanon that are outside of this buffer zone. However, to the extent those options are limited I think that's the whole idea.
As for the exception for offenders who currently live within the buffer, I'm pretty sure that was to avoid a lawsuit and to allow the legislation to pass.
A similar law was upheld in Iowa:
The United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously voted to reverse the district court's decision [which found the statute to be unconstitutional]... rul[ing] that there exists no constitutional right to "live where you want."
Excerpted from Findlaw.com.
According to this article, the Iowa law did not apply where the person had established a residence prior to its effective date, so this is probably the model everyone else is following since it got the stamp of approval from the 8th Circuit.
Jefferson has a good point. In Miami, Florida, the law was so restrictive that it became nearly impossible for five individuals to find a place to live. They've resorted to living under a bridge. See this article in the USA Today.
I understand that this is a NIMBY situation, but the people have to live SOMEWHERE.
I have a daughter, so don't think I don't know the reason for this law.
However, I think that it will not be especially effective, except in making county politicians look as if they've done something.
That guy near Howe School doesn't have to move. In fact, he now has good reason to stay put, since he's grandfathered in. And if he does move, he now has a stronger incentive to "forget" to register.
Is the 2500 feet measured along roads, or "as the crow flies"?
Good point. I read somewhare that after these laws go in to effect the number of offenders that goes MIA really jumps.
I have read the studies that argue that these residency restrictions do not - by themselves - reduce the likelihood that a sexual offender will commit another offense. And there may be some support for the conclusion that these laws may discourage offenders from updating their registrations as required by law. I have also read the studies that demonstrate that those individuals who are intent on committing a crime will do so regardless of the number or type of obstacles that lie in their path - whether they be residency restrictions, video surveillance, active patrols, or registration requirements.
Therefore, I suppose it would be easy to conclude that since there is no perfect deterrent and no guaranty of complete public safety 100% of the time, we should simply do nothing. Personally, I think that's a lousy way to think, and it is certainly a lousy way to protect children.
If this legislation protects just one kid today, I think it has done its job. And we'll all just have to continue to do other things to protect the rest of the kids tomorrow.
Yes, I am in one of those neighborhoods that is more than 2500 feet away from a school. Highland Terrace is all about a mile from Foster.
Not sure what to make of this. It definitely gives me cause to research the new neighbors that move in.
My initial reaction is that any of these predators that in the future locate in Mt Lebanon will end up in my neck of the woods since we are one of very few areas outside the buffer zone.
Short of having these people sew a Scarlet 'O' on their shirts to represent they are Offenders, I am not sure what else to do to identify them in public.
Anyone else living outside this buffer zone think they just got a huge problem dumped right in their lap?
James
PS Just noticed the ability to have follow-up comments emailed to me. Nice!
Highland Terrace Park should bring the neighbohood into a buffer zone.
According to the PG article the law prohibits "registered sexual offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a school or child care center, public park or playground."
Where is Highland Terrace? Is it a neigborhood? Google maps is drawing a blank. I can find Terrace Dr, but it is almost entirely within Foster's buffer zone. According to Google Earth, the intersection of Terrace and Connor is about 2600 feet from the closest point on the Foster School baseball field. All of Terrace north of there is in the buffer zone. The buffer zone of Village Green Park in Bethel covers most of the Sunridge/Oakwood/Piper area.
If you want to measure easily, get Google Earth, and use the Ruler tool from the Tools menu.
Remember, it's not just schools, but also parks and child care centers. Many churches run daycare centers, and many neighborhoods have parks and playgrounds. Also it's a county law, so homes on the Lebo border could be in the buffer zones of schools, parks, and child care centers in other municipalities.
Jefferson,
Bill was right. We have a little park up here. Highland Terrace is off of Connor Road. Instead of taking a left to head toward Terrace Drive and Woodland Drive, you take a right at the light and head up the hill. Many people think this is Bethel. Bethel starts where our sidewalks end.
That park is very small and the equipment very old, but I'll take it!
Thanks for the clarification.
James
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