The Sallisaw Police Department announced that during the week of April 10, five sex offenders registered within the city limits were told they could not live in their homes and would have to relocate because they were living within 2,000 feet of an educational facility.
"We realize this is a financial burden, but we also know that if they are going to reside in the city they will have to live within the law," the police department announced.
According to a press release from the police department, the sex offender registration act was a response to highly publicized sex crimes by repeat offenders and is a method of social control that requires sex offenders to register identifying information with local law enforcement and state agencies.
The goals of registration are to deter offenders from committing future crimes, provide law enforcement agencies an addition investigative tool, and to increase public protection.
According to the Nov. 1, 1989, Oklahoma Sex Offender Registration Act, it is unlawful for a sex offender to reside within a 2,000-foot radius of any public or private school site or educational institution. Violations may be punished as a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $3,000 and a second or subsequent violation shall be punishable by incarceration for one year in a county jail in addition to fines.
It is unlawful for a sex offender convicted of lewd molestation, rape or sodomy in Oklahoma or any similar offense in another state with a child under the age of 13 to be within 300 feet of any elementary or junior high school, licensed child care facility, or playground.
