Sen. Richardville introduces legislation to ensure registration of all sex offenders including homeless
LANSING — Sen. Randy Richardville recently introduced legislation designed to help ensure that all sex offenders are registered with the state by establishing requirements for homeless sex offenders.
Richardville and his Senate colleagues began working on the four-bill package following the Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling last month that homeless sex offenders do not have to register because they lack a “residence” as defined by law.
“Michigan developed a sex offender registry to help keep residents aware of offenders in their neighborhoods, as well as provide a tool for law enforcement in tracking these individuals,” said Richardville, R-Monroe. “The recent Court of Appeals decision is very troubling. We need to make sure that all offenders are included to help protect our children and other residents.”
The legislative package would require homeless individuals to comply with the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) and provide requirements for registering.
Sponsored by Richardville, Senate Bill 1208 would amend the section of law dealing with the reporting requirements to include the new provisions pertaining to homeless individuals.
The appeals court’s ruling on the case, the People of the state of Michigan vs. Randall Lee Dowdy, stemmed from Dowdy arguing he could not register with the SORA because he was homeless. According to registry records, 61-year-old Dowdy was convicted of five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of kidnapping in 1984.
SBs 1206 through 1209 have been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
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