Sex Offender Management Board Reauthorization

COVA is working in collaboration with CCASA and other members of the victim advocacy community to reauthorize the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB).

For the past 18 years, the SOMB has successfully utilized research and best practices to manage sex offenders and maintain a comprehensive system that strives to prevent re-offense and further victimization. The SOMB is essential to safeguarding Colorado communities and is set to expire in 2011. This bill, sponsored by House Representative Bob Gardner (R- El Paso, Fremont) and Senate Majority Leader John Morse (D- El Paso), will reauthorize the SOMB with statutory language that acknowledges that adult sex offenders may present an ongoing risk to community safety.

For more information about this bill, please read the fact sheet here. To read the bill in entirety, please click here.

It is crucial that Colorado Representatives hear about the importance of this bill from survivors, victim advocates, criminal justice professional and treatment providers for both victims and offenders. You are the experts on these issues and our elected officials need your help to make an informed decision. Please take a few moments to call and/or email your Representatives. Tell them:

When people report their victimization to the criminal justice system, they rely on the system to respond appropriately to this serious crime. To ensure future safety and prevent potential victims, the criminal justice system has to monitor and manage adult sex offenders with vigilance.

Perpetrators of sexual offenses often minimize the crime and attempt to portray it as an unfortunate "misunderstanding" or an isolated mistake. Legislators need to know that sex offenders plan this crime and choose their victims. There are often numerous victims before the perpetrator is even identified.

Much research on sexual offenders is based on recidivism rates, as opposed to re-offense rates. Legislators need to know the difference. Just because an offender was not "caught" or convicted does not mean that s/he has stopped offending. Legislators need to know that victims are often silenced for years and never engage with the criminal justice system for fear of reprisal.

The first hearing of this bill will be in the House Judiciary Committee. Access the list of committee members here. Practice your civic duty by calling their offices and sending an email!

If you are interested in going a step further and would like to schedule a one-on-one appointment with your legislator or provide testimony at the committee hearing, contact sterling@coloradocrimevictims.org or advocacy@ccasa.org as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!

If you or your organization would like to publicly endorse this effort to reauthorize the SOMB, please fill out and return the "Support House Bill 1138" form here.