NAUGATUCK — Sex offenders will no longer be allowed in borough-owned parks, schools, playgrounds, recreation and event centers, pools, gyms, sports fields and facilities, trails, or open space if the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approves a new “Child Safety Zone” ordinance.
The board will hold a hearing on the proposed ordinance at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Hall of Burgesses at Town Hall, 229 Church St.
The ordinance was inspired by a young girl who was raped repeatedly as a child, according to Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess. He said the offender has been released from prison and recently seen frequenting town parks.
Under the proposal, police will notify all registered sex offenders in the area. Violators of the order could be issued an infraction ticket for $250.
The police department will post a list of registered sex offenders in its records area for the public to view and child safety zones will be clearly marked at the entrance of included locations, according to the ordinance.
Thousands of law abiding registrants are going to be barred from practically all facets of society because of concern over ONE person (who hasn’t seemed to have done anything since his release).
Overkill much?
Punishment forever. Regardless of circumstance. A murderer, gang member who sells black to kids, a wife beater, a 10 time DUI offender…..They can all do whatever they want once they’re off paper. This is one of thousands of daily examples of an unconstitutional law. (And despite the absolute fact that it’s unconstitutional, it just doesn’t make any sense.) Just curious: When is “Pete Hess” up for reelection? I bet it’s soon. Real soon.
Yep, not punishment. This town will be ripe to file suit against. All this because 1 person is frequenting a place he has a right to be at. And no one has said he is doing anything wrong.
Purpose:
Since the Borough of Naugatuck has a compelling interest in protecting
children from the threat of sexual abuse from sex offenders, it is
hereby resolved that, to preserve and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the children of the Borough of Naugatuck, it is in the common interest to enact reasonable regulations
restricting sex offenders from entering Child Safety Zones.
Definitions
. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Child Safety Zone
(1) Any park, school, playground, recreation center, event center, swimming pool or
wading pool, gymnasium, sports field, trail, passive recreation area, open space
parcel, or sports facility, which:
a. Is under the jurisdiction of any department, agency or authority of the
Borough of Naugatuck, including, but not limited to, the Board of Education
of the Borough of Naugatuck, the Park and Recreation Commission or the
Conservation Commission.
b. Is leased by the Borough of Naugatuck to another person for the purpose of
operating a park, school, playground, recreation center, event center, bathing
beach, swimming pool or wading pool, gymnasium, sports field, trail, passive
recreation area, open space parcel, or sports facility;
(2) “Child Safety Zone” includes any and all buildings, land, parking area or other
improvements located on the same parcel on which each of the aforementioned
facilities is located, but does not include any public street or public sidewalk
located on the outside boundary of Child Safety Zones.
Here is the entire ordnance:
http://www.naugatuck-ct.gov/filestorage/77/79/310/314/12209/a010218.pdf
We’ll have to wait a few days to see if they publish the results. I cannot find a link to an actual video of the hearing.
A full page ad needs to be taken in the local paper each time there is an arrest for a crime of any kind against a child within the Child Safety Zone to highlight that the zone is not really safe after all and THEN sue sue sue, and refuse to settle for less than 20 million.
Sue the bastards Janice. This is war.
I knew the “crazy” would start up first week of 2018. Wasn’t disappointed or surprised one bit to say the least.
Again, we see a dubious new law/ordinance birthed from one victim that will subsequently punish all for the actions of one. Not only do they view us as guilty by association, but hate by association as well.
Notice he didn’t name the offender, who is presumably registered and probably banished from the park already. Why not? Wouldn’t he have been arrested and publicized anyway? Makes me wonder if he made up the “inspiration” as well.
That was my thought. Usually they are quick to name the registered citizen, as well as the date of conviction, the amount of time spent in prison, and the release date. Strangely, this one is so vague, my guess is that it’s as fictional as my “victim.”
Yep… Loser politicians in that state…. I guess…. remember the shows on letterman talking about CT ? what a waste of a time to go there.
Does that say they will mark the safety zones? Really?
Coming from IL where parks, trails, zoos, etc are all off limits its often hard to know where a public trail meets a trail owned / maintained by a subdivision or a forest becomes a state run park… Are they going to rope off or assure every point of entry is marked?
If I enter a park via a walkway from my neighborhood but the safety zone sign is at the front parking lot am I liable ?
The idea of marking these areas sounds great but is laughable. Especially if such places include child care and in home day care as those are moving targets.
Notice also the ordinance issues an “infraction ticket for $250.” Leaving aside that a registrant would be arrested for being in the proposed zones anyway, how is fining him “protecting the public”?
Why not play on the (false) public perceptions of RSOs and claim the mayor is selling $250 tickets to pedophiles to victim-shop all over the borough? Would love to see how the mayor would react to that.
I have long wondered why we must continue funding, via our tax dollars, public spaces we aren’t allowed to enjoy anymore.