Alaska’s Proposed Version of Jessica’s Law

Amendment to crime omnibus bill allows judges to ban convicted child molesters from living near schools and playgrounds.

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By Grace Jang
Bio | Email | Follow: @GraceJangKTVA

Right now, Alaska does not have any laws on the books that keep convicted child molesters away from kids. But that could change now that state lawmakers are getting closer to passing a bill to protect children from convicted child molesters.

It's called Jessica's Law.

Named after a young Florida girl who was raped and killed by her neighbor, a convicted child molester, Jessica’s Law requires sex offenders live at least 800 feet from playgrounds, schools or anywhere else kids are known to gather in groups.

Other U.S. states with a version of Jessica's Law have pushed many convicted sex offenders into homelessness due to requirements that force offenders outside of certain regions. In some cases, convicted sex offenders are completely pushed off the grid. Living a life off the radar makes it more difficult for police and probation officers to keep track of offenders.

One Anchorage senator has been pushing to get a version of Jessica's Law implemented here in Alaska but ended up with a compromise.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) proposed the legislation as part of a human trafficking bill, Senate Bill 110, but that bill died this session.

Wielechowski and his staff removed the sex offender portion out of the bill and placed it as an amendment to Gov. Sean Parnell’s crime omnibus, known as House Bill 127, which passed through the Senate Judiciary Thursday morning.

The sex offender area restriction amendment to the crime omnibus bill is now in the Senate Finance Committee.

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Randal Allen said on Wednesday, Jul 6 at 8:24 AM

Be careful about this law. Politicians love it because it gets them votes. But if you read the law it may include everything from urinating in public to spanking a child. This law imprisons 100 people a day and the number is growing exponentially. It has placed 1.7 percent of the US population on the internet as child predators. Cost the state $1,117,000.00 per conviction and the law is written in many states that "YOU ARE GUILY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT"! I suggest you read the law before you join the witch hunt.

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Janice S said on Friday, Apr 15 at 10:17 AM

RTS - You are totally right. I hired an attorney here in anchorage in the amount of 10K. he told me he "had this judge in the bag because he NEEDED his vote". Of course after I gave him the money, he was a HORRIBLE representative in the court matter, the offense was disregarded and he went on a fishing trip with the other party.

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Jane Doe said on Friday, Apr 15 at 10:10 AM

CORRECT RTS! I completely understand, I was involved in a civil case where my own attorney stated "HE HAD THIS JUDGE IN THE BAG CAUSE HE NEEDS MY VOTE!" Of course the looser didn't do a thing for me, but he sure did keep my 10k! And a fishing trip from the opposing party!

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RTS said on Friday, Apr 15 at 10:02 AM

How about we add in this law Court Enforcement of ALL documentation/records that provides FACTUAL evidence against sex offenders? And punish the scum bag attorneys that manipulate the system to "clear thier client" because they were paid a large amount of money. Punishment should also reflect on the judge that had the authority to obtain crucial documents/records that are without a perponderance of a doubt able to prove, by the offenders own admission, the offense. This state would be rocked with knowledge of those sex offenders... offenders that are at this very moment in your elementary schools, playing with YOUR kids..... Alaska's Court System is a JOKE!

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answer said on Friday, Apr 15 at 8:54 AM

Nuter, is the answer

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givemeabreck said on Thursday, Apr 14 at 9:46 PM

Your children have a 93 percent chance of being molested by people you trust. People who commit child rape murders do not live near schools because they do not want to be recognized. They travel about 20 miles from there homes. This is just another feel good law that does nothing.

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little bookworm said on Thursday, Apr 14 at 9:34 PM

i'm not trying to scare you the readers off the buses. i've been using them regularly since 2002. however i carry a cell phone and a small pepper spray.

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little bookworm said on Thursday, Apr 14 at 9:27 PM

All Of The Anchorage RSO's ARE NOT in jail. some of them use people mover buses, and some of these, sad to say, are non-complying. this means not staying caught-up with their personal info on the AK public safety website, and possibly sneaking around hurting more people. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE AS NEEDED! especially if you have kids, or are a senior and/or disabled person!

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mary west said on Thursday, Apr 14 at 9:24 PM

Good keep them as far as away as possible, they are not fit to live in any community as far as I am concerned.

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