4412 - Relations with Law Enforcement Regarding Sexual Predators in the Community Policy

Policy 4412 Relations with Law Enforcement Regarding Sexual Predators in the Community

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Relations with Law Enforcement Regarding Sexual Predators in the Community

The superintendent of the Pasco School District will be notified by the chief of police, county sheriff, or prosecuting attorney’s office when any of the aforementioned officials have determined that the presence of a “sexually violent predator” places students attending the Pasco School District at risk.  The categories used by law enforcement to assess the level of risk are described below.

In all cases, the procedure to be used by outside agencies is to channel all information regarding any “sexually violent predator” through the superintendent’s office.  The superintendent, in turn, may notify building-level administrators and other staff as appropriate.

Level I    Less serious offenders – No notification of the school district by law enforcement will occur.

Level II    More serious threat – Schools which are located in the area where the offender lives or works may be notified.  When the offense was against minor children and there is risk the person may reoffend, the risk level increases.  At Level II, staff members may be notified.

Level III    Most serious threat – All schools in the district may be notified.  In addition, law enforcement can distribute a photograph to the school district.  At Level III, students as well as staff may be notified, depending upon the risk factors outlined by law enforcement.

In the case of juvenile sex offenders, the following policy is used:

The state department of social and health services will notify the superintendent in writing whenever a convicted juvenile sex offender is discharged, paroled, given authorized leave, or otherwise released to reside in the district.  The department will also notify the district if any adjudicated victims of a juvenile sex offender are registered with the department and on record as attending a school within the district that the juvenile sex offender might otherwise attend.

Convicted juvenile sex offenders shall not attend a school in the district attended by their adjudicated victims.  The offender and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be responsible for providing transportation or covering other costs related to the offender’s attendance at another school.

The purpose of this policy is to cooperate with the chief of police, the county sheriff, the prosecuting attorney, and the department of social and health services in the exercise of the duties assigned to them by law.  In so doing, the district accepts no additional responsibility and does not safeguard the security or well-being of either the students or members of the community in this regard.

Legal References:    RCW    71.09            Sexually Violent Predators
            RCW    13.40.215        Juveniles found to have committed violent
                                or sex offense or stalking – 
                                Notification of discharge, parole,
                                leave release, transfer, or escape –
                                To whom given – Definitions

Adoption Date:  March 14, 1995