The Pasco County Commission is making it harder for certain sexual offenders and predators to find places to live within the county.
A new ordinance approved by the commission targets people convicted of sex crimes against children younger than age 16. Those crimes include sexual battery, lewd and lascivious conduct, and selling or buying a minor for sexual depiction.
People convicted of those offenses are banned from living within 2,500 feet of schools, child care facilities, parks, playgrounds and other places where children typically gather. That’s 2.5 times the state’s restriction, which sets the minimum distance at 1,000 feet.
“We’re not talking about Romeos and Juliets,” said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco. “These are the crimes that are the worst of the worst.”
County officials said 53 of the county’s 907 registered offenders are affected by the new ordinance.
Offenders who currently live within the new boundaries are grandfathered in, and don’t have to move.
However, if they move or if they violate any requirements they have as registered offenders, they must comply with the new restrictions.
Safety zones of 300 feet also have been established for locations including schools, school bus stops, YMCA and YWCA facilities, Boys & Girls Clubs, skate parks, public zoos, video arcades and fairs.
On Halloween, offenders must not have any contact with children or hand out candy. Outside lights at their residence must be turned off after 5 p.m., the time when children typically go out to trick-or-treat.
Public libraries were omitted from the safety zones.
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted that data shows libraries are among the most used locations for job searches.
If libraries wish to adopt their own policies to deal with this issue, county officials said their legal staff could assist them.
Therapist Robert Drake challenged the soundness of the ordinance. He said he has treated sex offenders for about 15 years and has never seen “empirical” evidence that 2,500 feet is a safer buffer than 1,000 feet.
“Really, are we making our community, our society, safer by putting more and more restrictions on people coming out of prison trying to rehabilitate?” Drake asked. “Is this really achieving our goal? I think more study is needed.”
Commissioner Mike Moore, who introduced the ordinance, maintained that if only one child could be saved, the ordinance was worth it. “This is an instance where we can make the county safer,” he said.
Published April 29, 2015
