At a recent City Council meeting, Mayor Scott LeMay and the council members were briefed on the existing sex offender ordinance and potential changes.
There are currently 461 registered sex offenders in Garland. 125 are considered low risk; 163 are medium risk; 22 are high risk. Not all of the offenders have an assigned risk level.
Garland’s neighborhood police officers do home visits with each registered offender in the city four times each year. High-risk offenders are visited more frequently.
The state requires that sex offenders:
- Register with local authorities within seven days of arrival in a city
- Report address changes
- Register with local authorities if, on at least three occasions, they spend at least 48 hours in a city or county
Garland’s ordinance added the stipulation that two sex offenders, unless they are related, cannot live in the same location.
Police Chief Jeff Bryan would like to pass an ordinance that states that if an offender’s victim was less than 17-years-old, the offender cannot live within 1,000 feet of any place where children gather. This would include places like schools and parks and would apply to new sex offenders moving into the area. No one would be forced to move.
Bryan said that many cities have already passed or are considering passing this ordinance. Some have also added day cares and bus stops to the ordinance language.
Landlords have the right to say that they will not lease to people who meet the criteria of a sex offender. Additionally, landlords who own property within 1,000 feet must be mindful of the rules and must comply with the rules of two sex offenders not being allowed to reside in the same location.
Staff was tasked with gathering more information including whether the distance could be more than 1,000 feet. During the discussion, District 7 Council Member Dylan Hedrick found that Lewisville and Richardson have a 2,000 feet restriction but the legality of that has been challenged.
It’s important that the distance named be defendable in court.
More information will be provided to council at the Sept. 16 work session