NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED CHISAGO COUNTY PREDATORY OFFENDER RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS
DATE: May 20, 2015
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Chisago County Government Center Board Room
313 North Main Street
Center City, MN 55012
DESCRIPTION
Chisago County Board of Commissioners will hear comments on a proposed Chisago County Ordinance limiting the locations where predatory offenders may reside in the County. The Chisago County Board of Commissioners is considering an Ordinance to restrict the residency of Level III Predatory Offenders.
Prior action: Chisago County Board of Commissioners enacted a Moratorium on April 1, 2015 for up to 90 days, preventing Level III predatory offenders from moving into the county for up to 90 days.
MEETING INFORMATION
The Public Hearing will be in conjunction the regularly scheduled May 20, 2015 Chisago County Board of Commissioners Board Meeting.
Persons wishing to speak should plan to arrive early to sign in and pick up materials. People will be able to offer oral or written comments, or both.
COMMENTS & CONSIDERATIONS
Topics open for public discussion:
• What aspects of public health and safety are believed to be impacted by the presence of offenders in the community? What evidence supports a finding a risk of harm to residents of the County based upon the residency of offenders?
• What empirical evidence or studies support or refute the effectiveness of residency restrictions on sex offenders or predatory offenders?
• Are there other considerations that impact the appropriateness or effectiveness of residency restrictions on sex offenders or predatory offender?
• If residency restrictions on sex offenders or predatory offenders are appropriate –
o What population (type or classification) of offender should be governed by the Ordinance?
o What areas of the county should be included in the prohibition for residency of sex offenders or predatory offender?
o What distance surrounding the designated areas are appropriate and would protect children from sex offenders or predatory offenders?
Chisago County will consider the evidence and input to make recommendations for further development of a proposed Ordinance.
HOW TO LEARN MORE
Minnesota Department of Corrections Website/Publications on Sex Offenders:
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/index.php/about/reports-and-publications/publications/sex-offender/
Minnesota Department of Corrections/Fact Sheets:
• Sex Offenders Treatment in Prison:
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/4313/9878/6668/SexOffendersFactSheet.pdf
• Sex Offenders in Treatment:
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6914/2919/3130/Sex_Offender_Treatment_Fact_Sheet.pdf
• Intensive Supervised Release:
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6913/9878/6660/ISRFactSheet.pdf
• Community Notification Act
http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/3713/9878/6651/Jan_2014_Community_Notification.pdf
Level Three Sex Offenders Residential Placement Issues: 2003 Report to Legislature
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2003/mandated/030175.pdf
Minnesota House of Representatives Research Dept. Information Brief: “Sex Offenders and Predatory Offenders: Minnesota Criminal and Civil Regulatory Laws”
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/sexofdr.pdf
Article: “When Evidence is Ignored: Residential Restrictions for Sex Offenders”
http://www.ovsom.texas.gov/docs/When-Evidence-is-Ignored-Residential-Restrictions.pdf
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers: “Sex Offender Residence Restrictions”
https://www.atsa.com/sites/default/files/ppSORegNotification.pdf