Last week, local residents aired their concerns about a clustering of sex offenders at a few properties on the 900 block of Washington Avenue. Most weren’t worried about an offender moving to the street; it seemed to be the fact that there were eight on the block — a “concentration,” many called it.
Well, the state legislature may just tackle such an issue in two planned bills — house bill 1430 and senate bill 5648 — when lawmakers meet in Olympia next year.
Here’s the text, as given to me by Bremerton police’s community resource specialist Andrew Oakley:
“(The Bill) Requires the department of corrections to, prior to approving a residence location and in addition to any other factors considered by it in exercising its discretion regarding release plans for and supervision of sex offenders,consider the number of registered sex offenders currently residing within one mile of the proposed address.”
The bills will be heard in committees in early February. I’ll keep an eye on the discussion.
I have a friend who is a recovering convicted sex offender. He has been treated and has graduated to a “halfway house” in Seattle. For him to transition into the community, he needs employment. Are there employers in Seattle or nearby who are willing to hire a convicted sex offender?