Dec. 26, 2008 — There are currently 11 registered sex offenders registered with the Susanville Police Department, and at least one person in the community is looking to make sure there aren’t any more. Community member Jazmine Buchanan first came to the council at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19. In that meeting, she explained how she had come across a registered sex offender in public. Buchanan has since come back to the council asking for its help in bringing about harsher punishments for sex offenders.

She came back to the council at its Dec. 3 meeting to ask the council to sign a letter of support for harsher penalties on all known sex offenders, which would then be passed on to Senator Diane Feinstein’s office.

“These offenders cannot be around schools and parks,” Buchanan said. “The reason why is because there’s children around. Well nowadays there’s children around everywhere. So they shouldn’t even have the privilege to be out walking the streets, like everyone else. We believe they should have life in prison. They lose their rights when they do the crime.”

Buchanan explained the current laws designed to punish sex offenders aren’t enough. She said that Jessica’s Law and Megan’s Law weren’t harsh enough for people who cause permanent damage to their victims.

The council eventually told Buchanan that it could not sign her letter because changing laws was something that had to be done at the state level, not at the city level. Mayor Kurt Bonham also said it would be difficult to pass any kind of new legislation asking for people who have already served their time in prison to go back.

Buchanan said she would continue gathering community support and bringing the issue before organizations like the city council until she started getting results.

To highlight how the sex offender issue’s it pertains to Susanville, Police Captain Tom Downing presented a report to the council at its request.

“Currently, 11 sex offenders are registered with the Susanville Police Department,” Downing said. “Out of the 11 registered sex offenders, one is in the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility, one is registered as a transient, and one resides in the county and is attending classes at Lassen Community College.

“The remaining eight are residing in the city. The city currently has no registered sex offenders who are on parole or probation, and no registered sexually violent predators.”

Downing said that as of Dec. 3, all known sex offenders within the city are registered and in compliance with state law. Sex offenders are required to re-register within specific intervals every month to three months, depending on the nature of their crimes.

Downing also checked with the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office to find out how many sex offenders are in Lassen County, outside the city limits.

Downing’s check found that the county currently has 77 registered sex offenders. None of them are registered as transients, one is in custody, eight are on parole, nine are on probation and one is registered as sexually violent predator.

“According to the Sheriff’s Office, nine known sex offenders are out of compliance with the registration law,” Downing said. “The Sheriff’s Office is working all leads to determine their whereabouts.

Downing said the police department has been taking an active role in maintaining registered sex offender files and confirming their compliance with the law.