How do you feel about sex offenders and molestors being employed and receiving state benefits?

I reached out to EPD and DHHS on specific questions about sex offenders. Listed below is information from EPD Crime Analyst Brittany Powell and  the information sheet above is from DHHS Social Services Branch Director Kelly Hampton.

Responses in red below are from Ms. Powell.

A lot of these questions depend on the level of registration.  The best information is found here: https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/SexOffenders_SummaryOfLaw.aspx

Probation might be a better resource for you?

1. If a Eureka sex offender breaks the law, do you report to anyone in EPD or a specific person?

The incident would be handled as if any person broke the law.    

2. Megan's law does not list if a person is currently registered locally or on probation? Who monitors that in Eureka?

If they are living in the Eureka City limits, EPD monitors that registration is kept current.  If they are on probation, the probation department would over see the probation terms. 

3. Can a sex offender, specifically a pedophile be a caregiver. I ask because a convicted pc 288 offender told me he is one.

This would depend on terms of probation.  Additionally this would depend on the hiring agency’s rules.  Some employers will not hire registered sex offenders. 

4. For sex offenders is alcohol use, drug use, use of cannabis a violation or only if they break a law like 647 f or more serious crime?

Depends on if they have any specific probation terms prohibiting from use of any of these things. 

I did not contact Probation because given the number of local arrests for violation for probation what's the point?

I cover courts and I am familiar with many transient and other registered sex offenders in Eureka and have yet to see a probation officer talking or checking up on these people that wander the streets and live in apartment complexes. I have lived here 16 years. If Probation is doing any monitoring, they can provide me the information.

There are some probation officers that do a great job. To the arrogant ass from Probation that comes up to me at the Courthouse and always on a busy, hectic day, if you want me to do a positive post on probation, instead of the snark, do your job.

Law enforcement and this blog is picking up the slack that probation is getting paid for. I see three particular probation officers walking all over town and at the Courthouse doing errands and chatting it up with attorneys. Must be nice to waste taxpayer money. Some of us actually have to work to get that paycheck.