Legislation to Create Distance Requirements from Schools and Parks, Tighten Supervision, Monitoring and Parole Requirements

Nevada's groundbreaking sex offender registry program has increased awareness and monitoring of offenders living in the state - but Nevadans may not know that dozens of offenders currently live in the immediate vicinity of schools, parks and other places where children gather.  A new bill proposed by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus will create strict distance requirements for sex offenders living in our neighborhoods, and bring tough new standards for plea agreements, offender supervision, monitoring and parole.

The new legislation, SB 232. will prohibit a sex offender convicted of an offense against a child from living within 2,000 feet of places frequented by children, including schools, school bus stops, day care centers, parks and movie theaters.  The bill also mandates that offenders stay at least 500 feet away from these locations at all times, unless approved in advance by a parole officer and counselor.

Senator Titus' bill will also change the way plea bargains are used in prosecuting sexual offenses, eliminating the "no contest" plea and prohibiting the plea bargaining of a sex offense down to a lesser offense that does not require registration.

In addition, the bill increases penalties for sex offenders who violate conditions of their lifetime supervision, requires active electronic monitoring in certain cases, and makes it tougher for offenders convicted of sex crimes against children to qualify for parole.

This new legislation will augment Nevada's existing laws governing sexual offenses, lauded as some of the toughest in the nation. 

In 2005, Titus authored legislation creating tougher penalties for sex offenders, requiring lifetime supervision of their conduct, and establishing the Nevada Sex Offenders Registry website (www.nvsexoffenders.gov), allowing concerned citizens to identify locations in their neighborhoods where paroled, supervised sex offenders reside.  This legislation garnered bipartisan sponsorship and won unanimous approval by the 73rd Legislature.