Bill to Keep Better Tabs on Sex Offenders Heads to Governor
A bill designed to keep better tabs on sex offenders is now heading to Gov. MInner for her signature.
Senate Bill 60 will implement the provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, a federal law which seeks to align sex offender registry standards throughout the U.S. These standards presently vary from state to state. The federal law also asks states to place the burden of proof on convicted sex offenders.
The bipartisan effort to enact SB 60 included State Attorney General Joseph “Beau” Biden and the prime sponsors of SB 60: State Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-Elsmere), House Speaker Terry Spence (R-Stratford), and State Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf (R-Rehoboth).
The bill will toughen Delaware’s registration requirements for convicted sex offenders and ratchet-up the penalties for those who fail to verify their whereabouts.
According to the AG’s office, the legislation will:
• Require convicted sex offenders to appear in person to register, re-register, or verify with the Delaware State Police.
• Reduce the amount of time -- from seven business days to three business days -- which a convicted sex offender has to register or re-register after being released on probation or parole.
• Require convicted sex offenders to provide additional identifying information to authorities, including the offender’s social security number and vehicle registration.
• Sex offenders who fail to register, re-register, or verify (as required by law) can be charged with a felony offense under the bill.
• The bill calls for the immediate issuance of arrest warrants for any offender who fails to register, re-register, or verify as required by law.
Speaker Spence, who also sponsored Delaware’s version of Jessica’s Law, said he was proud to be one of the legislators guiding the bill through the General Assembly. “Previous sex offenders pose an inherent risk to the safety of our communities. Sex offenders are unique among criminals in the motivation for their heinous acts and their likelihood of committing additional offenses. We need better tracking and monitoring of these individuals and this law will be another good step forward.”
###