LONA Meeting Minutes of June 13, 2005
Meeting Began: 7:12pm
Welcome and Announcements
Special Topic of the evening: Sex Offenders In Our Area - Mike introduces all: Jean VanIngen (Parole Supervisor), Deborah Jones Bassegio (Senior Parole Officer), Pam Weaver (National Center For Missing And Exploited Children, NY), and Officer Robert Jobe (Central Investigations Division).
Officer Robert Jobe (Central Investigations Division)
Monitors 600+ sex offenders in the city of Rochester
Police officer – tracks where they live/work/drive
Brief Overview of Sex Offender Act
-Megan abducted and killed in New Jersey 1994
-Each state creates their own registry
-1997 New York State Sex Offender Registration Act
probation or parole – must register
convicted, released, on registry – given level – score of 3 is the highest risk
given guidelines - in-accurate assessment, at times
-must register first time, yearly they must verify where they live by receiving & answering a request via US post
Law sends out list – not spelled out anywhere how or where to disperse
Level 1 – all information is for police only
Level 2 – more specific information given out: picture, zip code, what their offence was
Level 3 – exact address information is given out, as well as the Level 2 information
Police are not mandated to give out information – tries to get information to entity with a vulnerable population
Police are not the sole entity to be responsible for information dispersal
Volunteer to get the information out - there are more than 1400 day-care centers in Rochester
Level 3’s – every 90 days they must verify their address; 10 days to notify office of change of address; 1/5 have been arrested for not verifying their address --- Results in an A misdemeanor - low crime
2nd offence – judges are strict; results in a D felony – jail time is possible
Police have NO control of where convicted sex offenders can live
Others are watching offenders – probation and parole officers
Q: Carla Palumbo asked – search by zip code; is it up-to-date?
Level 3’s – some are covered by court order before hearing
Only Level 3’s NOT covered by injunction are searchable
Educate yourself – talk to kids/family/neighbors
Deborah Jones Bassegio (Senior Parole Officer) from Probation Department
2 components
1. When convicted of offense – investigation into background; education, work, family, victim
2. Disclosure to landlord, employer, school - probation officer verifies disclosure
conditions include: no loitering near parks, play grounds, malls, fairs, carnivals
how often they come in to office – 2 to 5 times per week
-home confinement – Global Positioning for Level 3’s – if judges are willing to order itsearches: officers check offenders homes to make sure they are not near kids; no porn or Internet connection
-assigned to an officer – up to 35 conditions must be met
-charged fees $30 per month to be on probation, register on SORAS, victim awarded money - hard to collect
-rehabilitation & public safety
-treatment is lengthy – 2 to 3 years, drug treatment, anger management
Q: background check – would it matter in their punishment; leads to plea bargain
Tools as to their supervision
Q: Level 1,2,3 – number of times or what factors
The offense, violence, ages of victims
Pam Weaver – not statistically validated
Sheila from Parole
Probation sentence given after parolee has served sentence
Corrections law – 1 day ‘good time’ for time served
Post-release supervision – special conditions - ages, etc
What was their crime – no judges’ approval
SARA Law – 1000’ away from school/facility for children, where the offender can, or cannot be
Monitor, curfew,travel restrictions
Parole supervision, curfew checks, breathalysers, screening
Q: Mike V. (Pres.) – 2 houses on Glide Street; Fran – Halloween time – no control re: children
@ 1000 offenders in the suburbs – most not under supervision
Pam Weaver – specific amount of time, then done
Officer Jobe – How To Protect Ourselves
Most states – A-misdemeanor – not a felony like in other states
Bob Russo – (National Center For Missing And Exploited Children, NY)
4 years, he has been working at the national center, previously spent 25 years working in the sheriff’s department
1981 – Adam Walsh - FL abducted/murdered, no laws in place at the time – no national entry
Katy Lou Borna – Auburn, started Adam Walsh Center National Center
5 branches, main in Alexandria VI, FL, Kansas City
Rochester – largest in all five locations – 275 Lake Avenue
Services offered: education, child events, free of charge
1200 cases reported in Monroe County – includes runaways, stranger abduction – last was Kali Paulton
1800 city of Rochester (first 9 months of the year)
-time is of the essence – 3 hours – 74% are killed – call 911 then call 1-800-THE-LOST
-5 minutes to intake – assign case manager – family, police, posters
-distribute posters via computer across nation
-400+ organizations participate, media – TV/radio
-Amber Alert program – NYS Police
Fine tune poster preparation – believe where child is going
Every transportation – bus, thruway, toll booths, etc.
-24 hour hotline – tip to contact authorities and follow up on tips/information
-all materials are free of charge – give to local scout troops, training facility – AV, etc.
10-12 classes per year – week long – across states, even Alaska
Canadian Mounties – pay to attend sessions
1st response – sex abuse
child advocacy center CAC - if child makes disclosure to teachermeet with child and school councilor, then hospital, then to zone substation, child repeats story 5 or more times – tramatizing for the child
CAC – ons stop for kids
Representatives from child protective services
DA office representative, police representative, medical team/lab
Victim’s assistance for child and family
Case is ready for jury
1st in Monroe County (Genesee County is 2nd)
sister agency – stop by for tour
Tips On Safety – common sense
"stranger danger" 80% NOT stranger – in position of trust
typical victim – 11 years old, within 400 yards of home, seeking independence
teach – tell others where going, plans
go with friend, know activities
encourage kids to talk to you
trust their feelings - okay to say "No" – encourage them to come to you
NO, GO, TELL
Come to the center – kid ID fingerprint
Officer Jobe
Encourage association and center to work together
LONA Regular Business:
Bob Stevenson - City Councilman
Prostitution Detail - 13 cars were towed – men were cuffed – 9 made bail
8 people on court watch to monitor the "johns"– 4 men from city, 9 men not from city, one reappears with lawyer
June16th - 3 reappear June 28th - pretrial conference
Lyell Avenue Business Association requested "johns" to do their community service - 8 hours 2 weekends Saturday and Sunday --- Work detail in Lyell neighborhood
1810 Lyell Ave - many were caught around here
budget vote on $1Billion – Leg. Asst. 5982 or 7538
Carla Palumbo - Monroe County Legislator
H: 647-4072
-meth labs – public safety meeting was great
-working on committee to address issue
Meeting Adjourned 8:34pm
Our next meeting will be held on September 12th, 2005.
Have a wonderful summer!
