A bill moving through the Alabama Legislature could put new restrictions on sex offenders convicted of crimes against children, including preventing them from access to the internet.
Senate Bill 199 was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday (Feb. 18) with sponsor Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, agreeing that additional work on the bill may be needed.
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The bill says any adult convicted of a sex offense involving a child “may be restricted by his or her parole or probation officer from using a post office box or possessing any electronic media, including, but not limited to, a computer, tablet, gaming system, or phone that allows access to the internet.”
“Offenders are increasingly using anonymous digital tools and current law does not give officers clear authority to restrict that internet access,” Kelley told the committee.
Questions remain
Sen. Linda Madison-Coleman asked how someone could work post-release, given that so many jobs require the use of a computer and internet access.
“I would submit that there are a lot of jobs that don’t require a computer,” Kelley said. Later, he said it is not his intention to keep someone who served his time from finding employment.
A violation of the law would be a Class C felony.
The bill also lets, but does not mandate, the Bureau of Pardons and Parole require offenders participate in a sex offender treatment program that “may include, but is not limited to, periodic polygraph examinations.”
A House version of the bill, HB26 by Rep. Mack Butler, has already passed that chamber.
Guidelines
The Bureau of Pardons and Parole would come up with the guidelines for implementing the law, should the bill receive final passage.
Bureau Director Cam Ward said the agency is neutral on the bill, but he “has zero problems with it.”
“The ‘may’ rather than a ‘shall’ helps a lot,” Ward told Alabama Daily News.
He said the guidelines will have to address computer and internet use.
“What about banking accounts?” Ward said. “A lot of us pay all our bills online. We’ve got to figure out how to address that through the guidelines.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Sell and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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