Contributed Report

DECATUR – Governor Bob Riley said a new state law that goes into effect on Saturday will dramatically improve protections for Alabama’s children from sex offenders.

“We’re going to have one of the toughest laws in the nation,” Governor Riley said at a news conference today inDecatur. “Our new law is stronger, more effective and unprecedented in its scope and severity, as it should be.”

The Governor was atDecatur City Hall on Thursday afternoon to outline the changes that take effect October 1. Governor Riley included the new sex offender law in the agenda for the special session that took place in July. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Legislature in the five-day minimum required to pass a new law.

Governor Riley thanked legislators for voting in favor of the new law and commended Attorney General Troy King for pushing the proposal through the Legislature.

“Under this landmark piece of legislation, sex offenders who prey on children will serve a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison for their first offense. They will serve every day of their sentence because they will be ineligible for parole, probation, split sentences or early release for ‘good behavior,'” Governor Riley said. “These monsters will be locked up for a long, long time.”

Other substantive changes underAlabama’s new sex offender law, known as the Community Notification Act, are as follows:

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The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center would be empowered to establish a system of electronic monitoring for sex offenders.

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Sexually violent predators and those who commit class A felony sex offenses against children younger than 12 would be subject to at least 10 years of electronic monitoring after their release. Sets provision for offenders to pay or share the cost of electronic monitoring.

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Allows judges and parole officials to require electronic monitoring for other sex offenders as soon as the state has the tracking system in place.

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Those who commit sex offenses against children under age 12 would be prohibited from working or loitering at or near schools, parks or other areas where children gather.

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Sex offenders would be required to possess either a driver’s license or identification card that would be marked by the Department of Public Safety to identity them as sex offenders.

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All penalties in the Community Notification Act would become class C felonies.

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The new law would extend and clarify those who are covered. Offenders who pleaded “nolo contendere”-not contesting their guilt-to criminal sex offenses in other states would be subject to community notification requirements. It also would cover most offenders convicted under federal laws and in other states without preliminary procedural hearings.

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Reporting time periods would be tightened. Sex offenders would have to report to local law enforcement after their release from prison or change of residence within seven days instead of the 30 now allowed. They would have to declare their intended place of residence 45 days before their release from prison, instead of 30. For those who refuse to provide information or give false addresses before their release from prison, the proposed law clarifies the process for re-arresting and criminally charging them.

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In addition to their residence, sex offenders would also have to register to inform local law enforcement of their workplace. They would bear the obligation to biannually verify their residence.

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Sex offenders classified as youthful offenders would have to undergo sex offender treatment before their release from prison.

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Law enforcement and prosecutors would be entitled to information about juveniles and youthful offenders that they need to enforce the Community Notification Act.

For more information, contact the Governor’s Press Office at (334) 242-7150.