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Councilman Greg Stanton
The Ahwatukee Republic
May 5, 2005
Phoenix Making Progress Fighting Sex Offenders
The city of Phoenix is continuing our proactive fight in dealing with an ongoing problem in our neighborhoods. The issue is sex offenders -- specifically, those offenders on parole or probation who are "clustering" in apartment complexes. No one neighborhood should have to deal with a disproportionate number of sex offenders. We believe it hurts neighborhoods when a group of sex offenders lives at the same address and we have taken numerous steps to help.
As a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, I am proud to be working with Mayor Phil Gordon and Councilman Claude Mattox on the following strategies:
- increased Police patrols in neighborhoods with identified sex offender clusters
- increased neighborhood notification through Police flyering of sex offenders when they move into an area
- increased notification beyond state law requirements to include schools, childcare facilities, churches and other community centers
- collaborating with Maricopa County Adult Probation and the state Supreme Court on revising administrative procedures on where offenders on probation are locating
- strongly supporting state legislation that would limit the number of sex offenders who cluster at one apartment complex or multifamily home
We want to thank Senator John Huppenthal and Representatives John McComish and Bob Robson for their support in the legislature on this issue.
In addition, the City Council has authorized an extensive study that will examine the impacts of clustering in our neighborhoods. The Police Department's Sex Offender Notification Squad is working closely with Vincent Webb, a professor of criminal justice and criminology at Arizona State University West and the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, which conducts independent research of public issues.
Please visit
www.azsexoffender.org to help inform your family and neighbors about the possibility of sex offenders living in your neighborhood or call my office at 602-262-7491 for more information.
Working with our impacted neighborhoods is a priority. We will continue to search vigilantly for every legal and administrative opportunity to address the sex offender cluster problem.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents Ahwatukee Foothills. If you have any questions about any issues, please feel free to call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/DISTRICT 6.
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