Sponsor Statement for SB 326

"An Act Relating to the Requirements for the Registration of Sex Offenders; and Providing for an Effective Date"

Senate Bill 326 requires that persons convicted of sex crimes to register prior to their release from a Correctional Institution within the State of Alaska, accelerated registration for sex offenders who move into the state, and those who are not sentenced to jail time.

SB 326, when enacted, will require persons convicted of sex crimes to register at least 10 days before release from an Alaskan institution. Current law requires registration within 7 days of release from an institution. The public feels that many sex offenders simply disappear and never register. It is estimated that between 800 and 1700 sex offenders living in Alaska are not registered. Many of these are thought to be convicted prior to the registration laws being introduced, have moved from the state or are deceased, and others simply ignore the registration laws. This bill will ensure that this number does not grow as a result of newly released inmates. Once a person has been released, extensive resources must be expended to find offenders who choose not to register. Due to privacy laws, until a sex offender is registered, the offender's information can not be entered on the Internet or made available to the public.

SB 326 also requires a shortened period, for those convicted of sex crimes that are not sentenced to do jail time, to 24 hours of that conviction. Currently, this group has 7 days to register. In addition, SB 326 will require sex offenders who move into the State of Alaska to register within 7 days instead of the 14 days now required.

SB 326 will greatly enhance the confidence the people of Alaska have in the system designed to protect them from dangerous sexual predators.