Oak Meadows Civic Club

Sex Offenders: How can we deal with them in our neighborhood?

An e-mail from a concerned resident

"I was concerned about the new sex offender that is registered. This man lives next door to us and my neighbors and us were wondering what we could do or what we should do since we all have young children. This man is also living in a house where there are children. We are very concerned about this and want to know what else to do."

What can be done?

If the sex offender is registered, there is a chance that he is still on parole. If so, a restriction might be not to have access to children within a certain distance. That information may be public record.

* You cannot force people to move, but you can begin a neighborhood watch program. Inform everyone that there is a sex offender living in your neighborhood.

* If you call your local police department, they will come out and give your children safety tips.

* Make sure your children know who this person is, what they look like, where they live, and make sure they are told to stay far away from this person. Please make sure that they understand that if this person ever approaches them, they are to yell, run, and tell immediately.

* If you feel like a crime is being committed by this person, call your local law enforcement office...DO NOT take the situation into your own hands.

Protecting our Children

Regarding child safety, in addition to teaching who NOT to talk to, we must also teach, who they CAN talk to. If for instance, your child is lost in the store, who can they talk to? Develop a list of safe persons your child can talk to – even if they do not know them. The list may include police, fireman, teachers and even cashiers in stores. Remember keeping children safe is an ongoing discussion and not a simple one-time set of rules.