Community Education and Notification Meeting Thursday May 18, 2006

1
Community Education and Notification
MeetingThursday May 18, 2006

• Presented by
• Ramsey Police Department
• Assisted by
• Scott Behrends
• Minnesota Department of Corrections

2
Why Have Public Meetings?

• Focus on the behaviors of all offenders, rather
  than one specific offender
• Ask Questions

• Notification meetings assist law enforcement in
  educating communities about safety
• Notification lifts the veil of secrecy

3
Community Information

• Sex offenders have always been among us

• Since January 1, 1997 communities have had the
  right to know about certain offenders

4
The Minnesota Statute (244.052)

• Made community notification the responsibility of
  local law enforcement

• Made risk level assignment the responsibility of
  the DOC

5
Community Notification

• Applies to
• Sex offenders released from prison (Minnesota or
  Interstate/Federal transfers)
• SPP/SDPs (civilly committed sex offenders)
• NOT juveniles (unless certified)
• NOT probationers

6
What Happens When An Offender Is Released?

• 90 days prior to release, DOC assigns a risk
  level
• End of Confinement Review Committee (ECRC) DOC
  Administration, Case-manager, Psychologist, Law
  Enforcement Representative, Victim Representative
• Use a actuarial screening tool to assess risk of
  reoffense

7
Assigning Risk Levels

• Examine the offenders entire criminal history,
  including current offense(s)
• Prison behavior, treatment participation, and
  other factors are considered
• Determine a risk level, and tell the offender
  what risk level was assigned
• Offender has an option to be present and to be
  heard, and a right to appeal the risk level
  assigned

8
Notification, or Risk Levels

• Level One -- LOWER RISK
• Law Enforcement may notify Other law enforcement
  agencies Any victims or witnesses to the offense

9
Notification, or Risk Levels

• Level Two -- MODERATE RISK
• In addition to level one notification, law
  enforcement may notify Schools and daycare for
  the purpose of protecting persons on or near the
  premises Establishments and organizations that
  primarily serve individuals likely to be
  victimized by the offender.

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Notification, or Risk Levels

• Level Three -- HIGHER RISK
• In addition to level two notifications, law
  enforcement may notify Other members of the
  community whom the offender is likely to
  encounter may use the media, and may hold public
  meetings to deliver information and answer
  questions

11
Risk Levels Assigned to Offenders as of January
1, 2006 (4069 Offenders)
12
Registration of Predatory Offenders

• The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is in
  charge of the Predatory Offender Registry.
• As of January 1, 2006, there are about 17,000
  predatory offenders registered in Minnesota
• Currently 30 registered sex offenders in Ramsey
• Currently 1071 registered sex offenders in Anoka
  County

13
Penalties - Failing to Register

• First Offense is a Felony with a prison sentence
  of one year and a day, plus five more years of
  registration
• Second Offense Felony with a prison sentence of
  two years
• In both cases the judge may sentence the offender
  to five years in prison

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Victim/Offender Relationship
15
Rights of the Community

• To be notified of certain offenders due to be
  released from prison or secure state treatment
  facility
• To know when certain offenders relocate to the
  community or move within the community
• To know about the conditions under which an
  offender is supervised
• To know who to contact for information or if a
  problem arises

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Offender Responsibilities

• Offender must comply with all registration
  requirements, including primary and secondary
  residence, vehicle(s), and employment
• Offender must maintain a lawful lifestyle

17
Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson
18
Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson

• Birth date 2/21/72
• (34 years old)
• Black
• Height- 6 1
• Weight- 270 lbs
• Brown eyes
• Black hair
• Residence location
• 7000 Block of 147th Lane NW, Ramsey, MN 55303

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Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson

• 1991 CSC 1st Degree, Ramsey Co.
• Offender sexually assaulted an adult female
  victim.
• Victim was not previously known to the
  offender.
• Force was used to gain compliance.

20
Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson

• Prior Record
• 1987 Juvenile Offense- CSC 3rd Degree.

21
Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson

• Robinson reached his supervised release date
  on 06/15/2002.
• Robinsons sentence expired on 06/15/2002.
• Robinson will be required to register as a
  sex offender until 06/14/2012.

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Jeffrey Duwayne Robinson

• MN Law allows this offender to live in the
  community after serving his court imposed
  sentence.
• It also allows the offender
• To work or continue training, education, and
  treatment. To get groceries, do laundry, go to
  church, seek medical and dental care, etc.
• To live and work free of harassment. (It is
  illegal and could cause problems for the statute
  in the courts.)

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Identifying Suspicious Behavior

• Offender appears to be intoxicated or under the
  influence of drugs
• Offender is behaving aggressively or violently
• Trust your instincts report any behavior you
  feel is suspicious

24
Reporting Suspicious Behavior

• Who to call
• 911 in an emergency
• 911 to report, or question, suspicious behavior
• General questions
• Ramsey Police Department
• 763-427-6812

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What now?
26
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation
1-800-325-HOPE www.jwf.org Michele Longe,
Program Manager
27
Sexual Exploitation AbductionThe Basics

• Link between abduction sexual exploitation
• Abduction is rare 115 stereotypical
  abductions/year
• Sexual exploitation is more common 1 in 5 girls
  and 1 in 10 boys

28
Sexual Exploitation AbductionThe Basics

• Many different types of crimes against children
  and people who commit them
• Most often kids are lured into victimization
• Stranger Danger curriculum does not work!

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Myths and Realities

• MYTH Child sexual abuse and abduction are most
  often committed by strangers.
• REALITY Between 80-90 percent of people who
  abduct or sexually harm children are known to the
  child or family.
• MYTH Children do not sexually abuse other
  children.
• REALITY Up to 50 percent of people who sexually
  abuse children are under the age of 18.
• MYTH Number one lure for children is candy or
  gifts.
• REALITY Children and teens are most often lured
  by attention and affection.

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Myths and Realities

• MYTH Individuals who initiate relationships with
  youth online lie about their age and sexual
  motives.
• REALITY Only 5 percent represented themselves as
  peers. 25 percent shaved a few years off of their
  age. 21 percent misrepresented their
  intentions, but were open about wanting sex.
• MYTH Youth victims are forced into face-to-face
  meetings with offenders.
• REALITY The vast majority of victims agreed to
  meet offenders (83 percent) and 73 percent of
  victims met the offender on more than one
  occasion.

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Personal Safety Tips Adults

• Screen all caregivers and workers
• Supervise children in all activities
• Unannounced visits to daycare, friends homes,
  etc.
• Trust your instincts
• Pay attention to behavioral/mood changes

32
Personal Safety Tips Adults

• Build childrens self worth
• Teach kids to speak up do no harm
• Help children develop supportive relationships
• Use teachable moments
• Teach kids how to respond

33
Personal Safety Tips Children Teens

• Post simple rules that teach kids teens to
• Check first
• Buddy system
• Trust instincts
• Tell all secrets
• Say no, get away,
• tell someone right away
• Dial 911 for emergencies
• Find five trusted adults

34
Prevention Tools for Success

• Play What-If Games
• Online education sites, interactive modules
• Games or books to increase discussion
  interaction

35
Behavioral Signs (Stop It Now)

• Spacing out at odd times
• Nightmares, difficulty sleeping
• Appetite loss
• Sudden and extreme mood swings
• Fear or sudden dislike of certain people or
  places
• Sexual behavior with toys or other children

• New words for private body parts
• Drawings that are scary or use a lot of black/red
• Self-mutilation
• Talk of new older friend
• Suddenly having money
• Older child exhibits behavior typical of younger
  children (bed wetting, thumb sucking)
• Answering I cant tell you

36
What to watch for when adults are with children
(Stop It Now)

• Refuses to let a child set any of his/her own
  limits
• Insists on hugging, touching, tickling a child
  when the child does not want the affection
• Overly interested in the sexual development of a
  child

• Regularly offers to babysit many different
  children
• Spends most of his/her spare time with children
  and has little interest in spending time with
  peers
• Insists on time alone with a child

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What Can I Do Now?

• Make changes that prevent victimization by all
  sex offenders, not just this sex offender.
• Stay informed.
• Educate your neighbors.
• Talk to each other about what
• you can constructively do to enhance public
  safety.
• Review safety tips frequently.

38
Community Resources

• MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault 161 St.
  Anthony Avenue, Suite 1001, St. Paul, MN 55103
  [phone] or 1-800-964-8847 www.mncasa.org
• Anoka County Victim Witness Assistance Program,
  2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303 [phone]

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Resources

• Jacob Wetterling Foundation
• 1-800-325-HOPE, www.jwf.org
• National Center for Missing and Exploited
  Children (NCMEC)
• 1-800-843-5678, www.missingkids.com
• Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children
• MICAC Task Force, 651-265-3882
• Stop It Now! MN
• 1-888-PREVENT, www.stopitnow.org/mn
• MDH Sexual Violence Prevention Website
• www.health.state.mn.us/svprevent
• Office of Justice Programs, Crime Victim Services
• 888-622-8799, www.ojp.state.mn.us

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www.doc.state.mn.us

• Scott Behrends 651-643-3467
• Risk Assessment and Community Notification Unit
• Scott.Behrends_at_state.mn.us

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Question/Answer Session

• Be respectful
• One speaker at a time, as recognized by the
  facilitator
• One question per person until each has had a
  turn.
• Please limit questions to this issue

42
Thank You