Dokiman ki tache

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA REVISED January 24, 2007 - 4:00 p.m. - Council Chambers - City Hall - City of Dover Public comments are welcomed on any item and will be permitted at appropriate times. When possible, please notify the City Clerk (736-7008 or e-mail at tmcdowell@dover.de.us) should you wish to be recognized. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS 1. Adoption of Minutes - Regular Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee Meeting of January 10, 2007 2. Presentations A. Sex Offender Management in the Community (Laurie Pezick - Probation and Parole) B. Sex Offender Notification Procedures - Caesar Rodney School District 3. Stranger Safety DVD 4. Discussion - Possible Recommendations Identified to Date 5. Adjournment /tm S:\ClerksOffice\Agendas&Minutes\Misc-Agendas\SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW\2007\1-24-2007 Sex Offender Leg Review Agenda - Revised.wpd THE AGENDA ITEMS AS LISTED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE The Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee Meeting was held on January 10, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. with Chairman Slavin presiding. Members present were Ms. Bell, Dr. Goaté, Mr. Hare (departed at 4:21 p.m.) , Ms. Ingram, Mrs. Levitt, Mrs. Mercer, Mrs. Ratliff, and Mrs. Shroyer. AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Mrs. Levitt moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Hare and unanimously carried. Adoption of Minutes - December 13, 2006 Dr. Goaté moved for approval of the Minutes of the December 13, 2006 Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee meeting, seconded by Mrs. Shroyer and unanimously carried. Stranger Safety DVD Due to technically difficulties, the DVD will be viewed at the next scheduled meeting. Presentation - Sex Offender Notification Procedures - Capital School District Dr. Michael D. Thomas, Superintendent of Schools - Capital School District, advised members that sex offender notification is an issue which the District takes very seriously. He noted that students who must walk to school are a significant concern for them. Mr. Robert Adams, Supervisor of Student Services - Capital School District, stated that 17% percent of Capital School District students walk to school. He advised members that, on two (2) occasions, parents notified them that strangers had contacted their children as they walked to school. As a result, the following protocols and recommendations were established: < Students are encouraged to report any unauthorized contact by any strangers. Upon receiving such a report, the school will make every reasonable attempt to contact the parents. The City of Dover Police Department may also be contacted, in which case, the parents have the right to be present for any questioning the Police may determine is necessary. < The school will assist the student with completing an incident report and the District Office will be notified so that they can disseminate the information and contact the appropriate Police agency. < A district-wide parent identification system has been established for employees. < A set of specific procedures for students who walk has been developed and is reviewed with students through the “Stranger Danger” program. < A form notification letter for parents and a custody issue file have been established. < Requiring that anyone picking a student up from school provide some type of identification. < Developing community partnerships to establish “safety zones” for walkers. Mr. Adams advised members that a book with pictures of sex offenders is available at every school in the district. Dr. Thomas noted that the photos which are faxed to the schools are not the best quality and are often not very clear. Responding to Mrs. Shroyer, Mr. Adams stated that parents are made aware of the binder and teachers are made aware of any students who have been classified as sex offenders.

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2007 PAGE 2 Dr. Thomas advised members that volunteers are not subject to a background check. Mrs. Mercer noted that Holy Cross requires a background check for any parent volunteer. They also utilize a Background Check Covenant, which is available at www.cdow.org. Mr. Slavin encouraged the Capital School District to keep the City apprised of any issues and offered to assist the District in any way possible. Presentation - Sex Offender Notification Procedures - Delaware Department of Education Ms. Robin Case, Director of Career and Technical Education and School Climate - Delaware Department of Education, advised members that the Department of Education oversees the public and charter schools in Delaware. Ms. Case advised members that State law previously required schools to mail sex offender notices to all parents in the district. Due to the lack of resources, HB 458 eliminated the mailing requirement and replaced it with the requirement that the sex offender binder be maintained and that parents be made aware of its availability. Ms. Case reviewed the Department of Education’s website - www.doe.state.de.us/ and noted where members could obtain resources related to the sex offender issue. She also noted that Title 11 of the Delaware Code pertains to crimes and criminal procedures and Title 14 pertains to education, except for private schools. Ms. Case noted that Risk Watch training is the curriculum regarding prevention and protection from sex offenders. Ms. Case advised members that, in accordance with the School Crime Reporting Law, when a misdemeanor offense has allegedly been committed by a child under the age of nine (9), the principal is not required to notify the police agency, but must file a written report of the incident with the superintendent, who must file the written report with the Department of Education within five (5) working days of receiving the report from the principal. When the alleged offense is a violent felony, the appropriate police agency must be notified of the incident even when the suspect is under the age of nine (9). Presentation - Sex Offender Notification Procedures - Caesar Rodney School District A representative of the Caesar Rodney School District was unavailable to provide a presentation and will be invited to attend the next meeting. Mr. Slavin noted that the committee may want to give further consideration to improving the quality of the photographs provided to the schools, recommending that private schools are notified of sex offenders in the same manner as public schools, the need for more education, making the sex offender registry which is available online available by school, and the school crime reporting law. Mr. Slavin noted that his daughter lives in Boulder, Colorado and he is on an e-mail list for her middle school. He stated that he received an e-mail notifying him that the Boulder Police Department was holding a community meeting to provide information concerning a recently released sexual predator. Mr. Slavin noted that the goal of the meeting is to enhance public safety and

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2007 PAGE 3 protection. Mr. Slavin noted that he requested Lt. Bernat to contact the Boulder Police Department to find out how the program is working. Lt. Bernat stated that Colorado State law mandates that notification of violent sex offenders must be made in a controlled environment to avoid vigilantism. Mr. Slavin requested Lt. Bernat to provide a presentation of the information obtained from the Boulder Police Department at a future meeting. Ms. Ratliff moved for adjournment, seconded by Dr. Goaté and unanimously carried. Meeting Adjourned at 5:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Timothy A. Slavin Chairman TAS/tm S:\ClerksOffice\Agendas&Minutes\Misc-Minutes\SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW\01-10-2007.wpd