
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: Stop Dumping Sex Offenders in our Community


Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
Kara Peterson, Assistant Chief
Bureau of Community Sanctions
770 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43222
RE: The Good Samaritan Home
116 Ludlow Street Greenville Ohio 45331
Contract for Independent Housing
In Your Work requirements Section I number 12, you state the following:
Offeror will provide documentation of support for the Community Residential Center by local elected officials, law enforcement and community members living in the neighbourhood where the proposed facility is to be located. (Examples of persons from which to gain documented support include city council members, mayor, county commissioners, Sheriff’s department, police chief, neighbourhood association, ministerial association etc.).
The Good Samaritan Home last had support letters from 2007 and was from a local judge, and a few community organizations of which were on the board of directors for the home. There were no letters of support from any direct neighbours where the IH is located in the residential neighbourhood.
The Good Samaritan Home has caused many concerned residents, public officials and school officials to re-evaluate the current ordinances for the city. The schools have re-directed bus routes over the past three years to ensure the safety of the children. This home at 116
While we understand that the law permits registered sex offenders to live in the community (subject to certain parameters in regards to proximity to schools, parks, etc.), we are deeply troubled by the apparent concerted effort and decision by the state to award a contract that is located in a residential area just over the state 1000 foot requirement and a few blocks from the City Park where children congregate year round. Further that The Good Samaritan Home does not have the support of his neighbours which feel this Independent Home has resulted in an unfair and disproportionate concentration of these individuals in the area. Our city has recently passed the following ordinance that your office was aware of and in spite of awarded the contract:
Greenville, OH Code of Ordinances
CHAPTER 662
Residency Restrictions Relating to Sex Offenders
662.01 DETERMINATION AND INTENT.
mandate of Ohio R.C. 2950.02 are hereby and herein adopted by reference, as if fully rewritten herein.
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 2-8-11.)
662.02 DEFINITIONS.
The following words and phrases, as employed herein, shall have the
following definitions and meanings:
(a) "Child day-care center" shall have the same meaning as in
Ohio R.C. 5104.01;
(b) "Child-victim offender" shall mean any person who has been
convicted of, is convicted of, has pleaded guilty to, or pleads guilty to a
child-victim oriented offense, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(D);
(c) “Child-victim oriented offense" shall have the same
meaning as defined in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(C);
(d) "Day care" shall mean either a "Type A Family Day Care
Home, as defined in Ohio R.C. 5104.01(RR), or a "child day-care center", as
defined in Ohio R.C. 5104.01(L);
(e) "Library" shall mean a building, room or series of rooms
housing a collection of books, magazines, publications and/or other paper or
electronic writings or communications, for use by the public, and such other
meaning as is customarily associated with such term;
(f) "Park or playground" shall mean any improved or unimproved
lands, buildings, or other premises owned, leased or controlled by the City
which are used for, or designated as, a playground, park, parkland, swimming pool, sporting facility, or arena that are open for the use by members of the general public; or, those approved or unimproved lands, buildings and other premises which are privately owned, leased or controlled and used for the conduct of youth-oriented sports or other organized youth-oriented events;
(g) "Preschool" shall have the same meaning as defined in Ohio
R.C. 2950.034;
(h) "Preschool or child day-care center premises" shall have
the same meaning as defined in Ohio R.C. 2950.034;
(i) "Residential premises" shall have the same meaning as in
Ohio R.C. 2950.01(T); and
(j) "Residential unit" shall have the same meaning as in Ohio
R.C. 2950.01(U).
(k) "School" means any school operated by a board of
education; any school charted under Ohio R.C. 3301.16, any community school, established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314; and, any non-chartered school that during the preceding year filed with the Ohio Department of Education in compliance with Ohio Administrative Code Section 3301-35-08, a copy of the school's report for the parents of its pupils, certifying that the school meets the State of Ohio's minimum standards for non-chartered,
non-tax-supported schools; or, any non-public school for which the State
Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07;
(l) "School building" means any building in which any of the
instruction, extracurricular activity or training provided by a school is
conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activity or
training are being conducted at or in the school building;
(m) "School premises" shall mean either of the following:
(1) The parcel of real property on which any school is
situated, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activity or
training provided by the school is being conducted on the premises; or
(2) Any other parcel of real property that is owned,
leased or controlled by (i) a board of education of a school; (ii) the
governing body of a school for which the State Board/Department of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07; (iii) the governing body of a community school established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314; or, (iv) the governing body of a non-public school for which the State
Board/Department of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07; and on which some of the instruction, extracurricular activity or training provided by the school is being conducted, whether or not any
instruction, extracurricular activity or training provided by the school is
being conducted on the premises;
(n) "Sex offender" shall have the same meaning as in Ohio R.C.
2950.01(B);
(o) "Sexually-oriented offense" shall have the same meaning as
in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(A);
(p) "Tier I sex offender/child-victim offender" shall have the
same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(E);
(q) "Tier II sex offender/child-victim offender" shall have
the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(F);
(r) "Tier III sex offender/child-victim offender" shall have
the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2950.01(G);
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 2-8-11.)
662.03 RESIDENTIAL RESTRICTIONS.
No person who has been convicted of, is convicted of, has pleaded
guilty to, or pleads guilty to either a sexually-oriented offense or a
child-victim oriented offense, and who has been classified as a sex offender,
a child-victim offender, tier I sex offender/child-victim offender, tier II
sex offender/child-victim offender, or tier III sex offender/child-victim
offender shall, subsequent to the effective date of this chapter, establish a
residence or occupy residential premises or a residential unit within 1,500
feet of any school, school premises, school building, preschool, preschool or
child-care center premises, child-care center premises, library, park or
playground.
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 2-8-11.)
662.04 EXCEPTION.
to age-related, or health-related causes, is required to reside, or be cared
for, in a nursing home, long-term care facility, hospice care facility,
physical rehabilitation facility, respite care facility, or other similar
facility.
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 2-8-11.)
662.05 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
If a person to whom Section 662.03 applies violates any provision of
this chapter, the City shall have a cause of action for injunctive relief
against such person, or any other person who shall knowingly aid, assist or
abet any person to whom Section 662.03 applies to violate any provision of
this chapter, and the City shall not be required to establish irreparable
harm in order to obtain such injunctive relief.
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 2-8-11.)
We feel that the State DRC allowing this contract with Good Samaritan Home to house registered sex offenders to this area, endangers the welfare of our residents and children, and has an overall negative impact on our community. The disproportionate placement of these individuals in our community has a disparate negative impact on the quality of life of our local residents and taxpayers, on their property values, and exposes our residents to unacceptable levels of danger resulting from the high concentration of these individuals in the community.
We are asking the Ohio Department of Corrections to revoke the contract to Good Samaritan effective immediate and stop allowing our city and community to be a dumping ground for sex offenders.
Comment