(a) The Court Support Services Division, in conjunction with state-wide experts in law enforcement, the treatment of sexual offenders and sexual assault victim services, shall, within available appropriations, develop a community response education program to be offered to neighborhoods and municipalities that have been notified pursuant to section 54-258 that a person who has registered under said section is or will be residing in that community.
(b) The purpose of such program shall be to assist neighborhoods, parents and children to learn how to better protect themselves from sexual abuse and sexual assault. The program shall develop educational materials and community information resources on prevention and risk reduction concerning sexual abuse and sexual assault and the enforcement of requirements concerning the registration and supervision of sexual offenders and the notification of communities where such offenders reside.
(c) The program may include the following:
(1) An initial community meeting following a community notification, sponsored by the Court Support Services Division and held in conjunction with the chief of police, chief elected officials, the superintendent of schools and other municipal officials of the community, to discuss the implementation of the statutory requirements concerning the registration of a sexual offender and the notification of the community where such offender resides, to provide information on the crime or crimes involved and to provide information on how the offender will be monitored by the Court Support Services Division and the specific conditions of probation applicable to the offender;
(2) Information on how and where concerned residents may report observed violations by an offender of the conditions of such offender's probation;
(3) Resources to educate families and children in the prevention and avoidance of sexual abuse and sexual assault and for parents seeking supportive methods for discussing relevant issues with their children;
(4) Resources on when and how a community may wish to establish a network of “Safe Houses” for neighborhood children to use when they seek safe shelter or the creation of a neighborhood block watch or crime watch;
(5) Resources for police departments and boards of education to use in consulting with parents on appropriate school-based classroom programs stressing safety, prevention and risk reduction and to use in developing educational programs for parents to discuss relevant issues with their children; and
(6) Compilation and distribution of a list of child protective agencies, child guidance clinics and rape crisis centers for families seeking more in-depth counseling after a community notification has occurred.
(d) The Court Support Services Division may apply for and receive grants from the federal government or any agency thereof or from any foundation, corporation, association or individual for purposes of the development of the community response education program under this section.
(P.A. 98-135, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 111; P.A. 02-132, S. 52.)
History: P.A. 98-135 effective May 27, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 02-132 replaced “Office of Adult Probation” with “Court Support Services Division” throughout and made a technical change in Subsec. (c).