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Tuesday, 24 March 2009 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — A local state senator is again trying to pass legislation that would require GPS monitoring for violent sexual offenders.
State Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, introduced Senate Bill 67 last week — a measure that would require GPS monitoring for violent sexual offenders as well as provide for the civil commitment of offenders deemed too dangerous for release.
“This is basically the same bill as last time, but with some updates,” Faber said. “The concept is pretty much the same.”
Faber cited high recidivism rates for violent sex offenders as the driving force behind the bill. Faber said between 60 and 65 percent of violent sexual offenders re-offend within three years.
“The question is why are we letting them out and then feeling good about where they live,” Faber said. “If we know they are going to re-offend, why should we just feel good about where they live.”
A similar bill stumbled last year, Faber said. However he went back to the drawing board and addressed some of the concerns regarding the GPS portion of the measure.
“We did strengthen the GPS option,” Faber said. “What has historically hurt this bill has been the cost.”
Faber estimated the cost of monitoring to be $10 to $15 a day — a cost charged to the person being monitored. There also are two options available for monitoring that could cause the cost to change.
“One is passive GPS that randomly activates and shows where they have been,” Faber said. “The other is active, where it is transmitting all the time. It’s virtually impossible for active monitoring to get away. The passive one you would have to review the data.”
While still in its early stages, Faber said the bill would place the burden of monitoring the offenders on the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC). Previous measures attempted to place the burden on the local sheriff’s offices.
“They have enough to do,” Faber said of local sheriff’s offices. “They (ODRC) are already doing some of that. They have the ability.”
Faber said the civil commitment portion of the bill, also included in a previously proposed piece of legislation, would be reserved for the worst offenders. The institution would be similar to a prison, but offer specialized treatment for violent sexual offenders.
“This is a locked, secure state facility for treatment that they couldn’t get out of,” Faber said. “The problem is we just can’t lock them up when they serve their sentence.”
A hearing would be held to determine if the person is a danger to themselves and society and subject to a civil commitment. Faber dismissed notions the civil commitment requirement is a means to punish offenders further after their sentence is completed.
“You keep them until they aren’t a danger (anymore),” Faber said. “It isn’t about punishing them, it’s about keeping them safe. I don’t think we should just release them and wait. I think that’s bad public policy and cost can never be an excuse.”
Faber said the bill targets those who statistics show are likely to re-offend if released. While critics of the bill voice concerns for the offenders, Faber said the bill’s focus is on protecting the public.
“My response is simple, it’s about safe guarding the communities and our kids,” Faber said. “What we are doing is identifying a very known sector of society. I am much more about the victims’ rights and frankly avoiding victims than with the other side.” |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 March 2009 )
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