Governor Chris Gregoire Sends Recommendations to Sex Offender Task Force to Improve Safety of Washington Families

Governor responds to task force’s case review of Terapon Adhahn case

September 10, 2007, OLYMPIA – Governor Chris Gregoire today sent a letter to the sex offender task force with four of her recommendations to ensure the safety of Washington families.

“My number one priority is the safety of our families in Washington and I know this value is shared by the Task Force,” said Governor Gregoire in her letter to Task Force Chair Russ Hauge.

Governor Gregoire on August 1 asked Kitsap County Prosecutor Hauge to chair a sex offender task force to review the Terapon Adhahn case. The task force today released their preliminary case review.

Governor Chris Gregoire’s recommendations:

* We need to ensure that we have on file DNA of every sex offender.
If we had a DNA sample of Terapon Adhahn on file from 1990, we may have arrested him before some of his latest crimes were committed. I believe our laws have already closed this gap, but if there are any exceptions to a sex offenders DNA being on file, we must ensure that the exceptions are eliminated.

* Knowing where sex offenders live is absolutely necessary.
In 2006, we significantly tightened our registration requirements. We now send offenders who fail to register a second time to prison. Please have the Task Force determine the impact of this change. We should consider adding Level I offenders to our sex offender registry website. This could help make Washingtonians aware of individuals like Adhahn.

* We must support local law enforcement in monitoring registered sex offenders.
Many sex offenders are under state supervision upon release but, like Adhahn, could complete that supervision and continue to register with local law enforcement. We need to find ways for local law enforcement to monitor all registered sex offenders.

* We must consider increased electronic monitoring of sex offenders. In 2006, I signed a law that allows the Washington Department of Corrections to use electronic monitoring for sex offenders and to recommend to the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board the use of electronic monitoring of sex offenders. I am requesting that the Department of Corrections review all cases of Level III sex offenders under community supervision and determine if such a condition should be imposed in individual cases where circumstances merit the use of this tool.

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Source: Washington State Office of the Governor

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