CFC OKLAHOMA

Sex Offender Guidlines | Video www.kfyrtv.com/News_video.asp?news=36433
Retha Colclasure
12/23/2009



North Dakota was one of the first states to adopt registration requirements for sex offenders. The state also has one of the best websites in the country to find and locate sex offenders.

Despite that, the state isn`t in compliance with new federal sex offender registration requirements. In fact, our Attorney General says he doesn`t want to be in complete compliance. He says those guidelines are a step in the wrong direction for the state.

North Dakota`s sexoffender.nd.gov Web site has been recognized as one of the best Web sites for tracking sex offenders, finding those who live in a certain community and finding out, in layman`s terms, what they were convicted of doing. So why would a state with such a good Web site and a strong record for tracking offenders not be in 100 percent compliance with federal guidelines?

"We are in 98% compliance with the federal legislation. Those areas where we are not is an area where our system is better," said North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

North Dakota was already doing many of the things the federal law required. In some areas, the federal legislation toughened up requirements, lengthening periods of time where offenders have to register their whereabouts with police, but one major area was a problem.

"That is the area of assessing each and every person who is on that registration list. The federal law simply provides that whatever it is you`re convicted of, that is the level of offense and period of time you have to register for," said Stenehjem.

Instead, North Dakota has a committee that evaluates each and every sex offender, determines a level of risk and has the ability to move somebody up or down the scale as needed. "I like our system," said Stenehjem. "It`s flexible, and it looks at each individual case rather than just the cookie cutter approach the federal government has provided for us."


He asked for, and received, an extension on when the guidelines must be met with the hopes that Congress will acknowledge North Dakota`s system, and not punish the state for failing to be in complete compliance. "We would lose 10% of the BURN Grant funding we get for law enforcement in the state, so it would be a substantial amount of money," said Stenehjem.

That grant provides some funding for local law enforcement agencies, but Stenehjem says compromising the safety of citizens in the state isn`t worth those few thousand dollars.

Ohio is the only state that has adopted the guidelines. Some states can`t afford the infrastructure required for a Web site. Right now, there are 1,090 people on the sex offender registration list in North Dakota and another 200 who are still incarcerated.

www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=36433