06/26/2012
By ALDETH LEWIN
ST. THOMAS - The Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee amended and passed a bill to update the sex offender registry laws in the territory.
The bill would bring the territory into compliance with federal regulations that would qualify the territory for some federal law enforcement funding.
The bill first was heard in the committee in February but was held for additional changes.
The legislation amends the V.I. Sexual Offender Registration and Community Protection Act of 1997 to increase reporting requirements for convicted sex offenders.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. submitted the bill to the Legislature last year.
The measure requires all sex offenders to register with the V.I. government within three days of coming to the territory or changing residences within the territory. Reporting requirements vary depending on the crime for which the offender was convicted.
Concerns were raised at February's hearing about the reporting requirement for a sex offender who wants to leave the territory or the United States. Under the proposed law, a registered sex offender must give the government 21 calendar days advance notice before he or she leaves the country.
Sen. Ronald Russell offered an amendment Monday that allows that time to be shortened at the discretion of the V.I. attorney general as long as information or documentation is provided to support the request.
The bill also amends the law to expand the requirements of who must register. Currently, anyone who has been convicted of a sexual crime anywhere in the United States or a court of another "competent jurisdiction" must register.
The proposed law would establish a three-tiered classification system, requiring offenders convicted of crimes of varying severity to register for 15 years, 25 years or life. Currently, the law requires sexual offenders to register for either 15 years or life.
The territory already has lost about $92,000 in federal law enforcement funding this year and stands to lose a similar amount for each year that the territory is not in compliance with the mandates required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act of 2006.
Attorney General Vincent Frazer said 34 states also have failed to meet the requirements.
At Monday's hearing, senators were glad the bill finally is moving ahead.
"This bill has been around for a while now, and I think we're seeing some light at the end of the tunnel," Sen. Sammuel Sanes said. "We've had an exodus of individuals coming down here seeing the islands as a safe haven. Hopefully this will put a stop to that."
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