Colorado’s blind eye to sexually violent predators who have been released into the general population has been a daisy chain of disgraceful non-action. Non-action that in and of itself ignores the letter of the law. Non-action that leaves our neighborhoods at unknowing risk.
The state Department of Corrections recently admitted it hasn’t evaluated convicted sexual predators before they’re released onto the streets as required by a 1999 community notification law. The law requires offenders who meet certain criteria to be designated “sexually violent predators” requiring law enforcement to actively notify neighbors. After published reports of these failures over the weekend, DOC officials said they erred and will move quickly to evaluate eight ex-cons who were paroled and set free.
DOC officials say the Parole Board never sought an evaluation. The chairman of the board says the panel relied on corrections officials for the assessments. That the board could look at a convict’s record and never think to ask is astonishing. The board is one of only two entities – district judges are the other – that can designate a sexually violent predator.
Gov. Bill Owens’ spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said DOC officials have assured the governor they’re taking immediate steps to see that no more prisoners are released without the required evaluation. “This is an example of the media calling to the state’s attention something that absolutely needed to be corrected,” Hopkins said. The DOC acknowledged its error as a result of inquiries by The Denver Post.
Currently, Colorado lists just five men as sexually violent predators whose neighbors must be notified. Yet The Post found that since 1999, 1,300 offenders, at the time they were convicted, met Colorado’s initial criteria for consideration.
Colorado’s law on sexually violent predators is thought to be so restrictive that it’s easy for sex offenders to escape the label. Other states with notification laws designate far more people for community notification. Florida lists more than 5,000 and Arizona 4,800. Nebraska has 858 and Wyoming has 289.
The recent rampage by Brent J. Brents worried many in the metro area. Unlike other states, for example, Colorado’s 1999 law was not made retroactive, so Brents, who was convicted in 1988 of sexually assaulting two children, was not on the list. We have to wonder, are there others who meet that profile?
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff plans an inquiry into whether new legislation is needed to strengthen Colorado’s procedures for identifying violent sexual predators. That’s the least that should be done. Gov. Owens just signed House Bill 1035, making it easier for people in the community to get information about sexual offenders, and that’s commendable. Now, he should ride herd on the Department of Corrections and the Parole Board to make sure they’re doing their jobs from here on out.
