|
Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 10, 2010
Sen. Cliff Branan
Legislation Closing Loophole in Sex Offender Registry Heads
to Full Senate
State Sen. Cliff
Branan is awaiting a vote by the full Senate on his bill to
close a loophole in Oklahoma’s sex offender registration law.
Branan said news reports had uncovered the problem, prompting him
to file Senate Bill 2231. The bill won unanimous approval in the
Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.
“The whole idea behind the sex offender registration law in
Oklahoma was to keep track of where the offenders are living and
ensure the public could access that information,” said Branan,
R-Oklahoma City. “Unfortunately, some on the registry were
giving a post office box number instead of a street address which
defeats the whole purpose. SB 2231 closes that loophole by requiring
them to use the actual address of where they’re currently
living.”
According to the Department of Corrections, there are currently
11,637 people on Oklahoma’s sex offender registry. These include
individuals who have been convicted of crimes ranging from indecent
exposure to rape and child molestation.
“We have penalties on the books for sex offenders who fail
to register or update their information when they move. The problem
is using just a post office box was perfectly legal,” Branan
said. “My legislation fixes that problem.”
If approved by both chambers and signed by the governor, the new
law would take effect on November 1, 2010.
For more information contact:
Sen. Branan: 405-521-5543
|
