Kratovil Convenes Meeting with State and Local Law Enforcement to Discuss How We Can Better Protect Our Children from Sexual Predators
Salisbury, MD – Rep. Frank Kratovil convened a meeting of elected and law enforcement officials yesterday morning in Salisbury to discuss ways in which they can work together to ensure that the law enforcement community has all the tools necessary to properly protect our children from sexual predators.
Congressman Kratovil was joined by Maryland State Delegates Norm Conway & Jim Mathias, Wicomico County State’s Attorney Davis Ruark, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, Salisbury Police Department Chief Ivan Barkley, and Maryland State Police Lt. Ernie Leatherbury, Commander of MSP’s Salisbury Barracks.
“Our communities are at their safest when local, state, and federal officials are working together to ensure that our law enforcement professionals have the resources and tools necessary to protect our children.” said Rep. Kratovil. “We need better cooperation, tougher sentencing guidelines, and more resources for tracking and monitoring known predators.”
One of the priorities discussed by attendees was implementation of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (P.L. 109-248), a federal law passed in 2006 that set new federal standards for state sex offender registration laws. States face an implementation deadline of July 27, 2010 to bring their state laws into compliance with the new federal standards or risk losing federal funding for law enforcement through the Department of Justice’s Byrne Program. Maryland’s sex offender registry laws will require significant revisions during the current legislative session in Annapolis in order to meet the implementation deadline.
“I am committed to working with state lawmakers and law enforcement personnel to improve our state’s standards and help make our communities safer,” said Kratovil.
Substantial compliance with Title I of the Adam Walsh Act: the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act require significant revision of Maryland’s sex offender registry and notification protocols, including but not limited to:
· Expanding of the class of offenders required to register;
· Increasing how long certain offenders are required to register;
· Expanding the information required to be provided upon registration;
· Strengthening provisions relating to when offenders must update their registration information; and
· Strengthening community notification and disclosure requirements.
“During my career as a prosecutor I found that the most despicable crimes were those perpetrated on innocent children,” said Kratovil. “On account of the recent tragedy experienced in this community I can think of no better motivation for the State of Maryland to make a commitment to protecting our children by coming into full compliance with revised federal standards,” said Kratovil.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
9 comments:
I hope that this case isn't going to be exploited by the politicians. It looked like a planned photo opt in The Daily Times.
anonymous 8:45, You called it perfectly.
Salisbury News was not invited because they knew I'd call it as I see it.
If ANY of the people in today's photo actually cared they'd be in Annapolis supporting Delegates Conway and Mathias for their proposed legislation on sex offenders and the death penalty.
That's a photo op you're NOT going to see. Mind you, since Mathias and Conway were at the Sheriff's Office, they knew today was the day for this proposed legislation.
I'll be there, so we'll see just who shows up. My guess, the Delegates will be flying solo.
Why does it take a tragedy to motivate people ? Should we have been in compliance ? Why doesn't he say her name ? Sarah Foxwell
TDP, it's all about politics and votes. All 4 of these people are up for re-election this year. If it wasn't for the attention we gave this and Conway admitting he had never received so many letters and calls, nothing would have changed. Thanks to all of YOU, things are getting better by the day here on the Eastern Shore.
No longer will WE sit back and take it. No longer will we allow our elected officials do what they think is right for ALL of us without them knowing what WE want first.
The Good Old Boys are done and every one knows it. So regardless of the politics in Kratovil's message, the new legislation/attention placed on this matter is vital. You can't knock them for listening but you're exactly correct, this should have been done long ago.
didn't kratovil's law firm represent sex offenders?
what am i missing here?
wants to be on both sides of the issue! anyway he can profit from it! tells you everything you need to know about the man!
Kratovil's law firm? He was an elected State Prosecutor, not part of a law firm.
Conway has his cake and eats it too! First, he votes with the other libs to shutdown the original Jessica's Law provisions and kill it in committee. Now he's "got religion" and wants to have his poses with law enforcement and a share of the cake. We need proactive representation, not more of the same nonsense, diversion, and "every four years a conservative" pitchman! PLEASE!!!
Lets' let teenagers get away with everything. They know right form wrong
Frank Kratovil is trying to do something about this and you people are criticizing him for it? Unbelievable.
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