Washington OKs pedophile-free zones

Council approves 2,500-foot pedophile-free zones around schools, day-care centers and parks (Dec. 15)

By: Lauren Burgoon
   WASHINGTON — Even though the Township Council has unanimously agreed to impose residency restrictions on convicted pedophiles, the issue is far from over as amendments to make the ordinance more comprehensive are up for a final vote next week.
   The council approved 2,500-foot pedophile-free zones around schools, day-care centers and parks on Dec. 8. The decision followed weeks of public debate over the ordinance’s merits and even the most ardent supporters acknowledged the measure is imperfect because it fails to protect the entire township. No New Jersey town has successfully had an ordinance upheld in court that prohibits pedophiles from living in the entire town.
   Though the ordinance passed, it is still unclear exactly how many residents are protected from pedophiles moving into the neighborhood. A 2,500-foot radius is just shy of half a mile and Councilwoman Ronda Hyams displayed a map estimating about 40 percent of Washington’s 20 square miles are covered under the ordinance. However, the measure covers all of Town Center because of parks that dot the development and several other large housing developments, such as Foxmoor, are partially covered. Washington officials were unable to get an accurate count of what percentage of the population lives in the pedophile-free zones. No official township map outlining the zones exists.
   Township Attorney Mark Roselli recommended against ideas to increase the zones to either 3,500 feet or one mile (5,280 feet) for constitutionality reasons. The council agreed, with Bill Lesniak saying zones of more than 2,500 feet, which has become the norm for anti-pedophile ordinances, could "throw up red flags" and put the ordinance in jeopardy.
   The council’s decision to stick with the lower limit did not sit well with resident Susan Morsell.
   "I still have a bit of a problem giving the state the message that Washington Township is going to have a 40 percent pedophile-free zone. … I don’t want to give the state the perception that 60 percent of Washington Township is OK for pedophiles to live there," the Randolph Drive resident said at the Dec. 8 hearing.
   Former Mayor Vince Calcagno responded that pedophile-free zones, whatever the distance, are a step in the right direction. He compared it to background checks for coaches and club leaders that Washington instituted several years ago.
   "Even that ordinance was far from perfect because when it was put into place it only covered township-owned property and not even the schools. … But people still felt that was a good step and a worthwhile step," he said, noting background checks have evolved to include most adults in contact with children through extracurricular activities.
   Yet in deference to those who want to see the pedophile ordinance strengthened, the council agreed to look at increasing the percentage of people covered by adding houses of worship, of which there are several scattered throughout town, to the restrictive zones.
   The amendment also would strengthen the ordinance’s anti-loitering clause by making it illegal for convicted pedophiles to loiter within 500 feet of bus stops when the stops are frequented by children. The areas affected could change annually because the Board of Education reconfigures bus stops each school year to meet demand.
   The amendment is up for public hearing and final vote at the Dec. 22 council meeting.
   Outside of a policy realm, the council is looking at other ways to protect children from pedophiles. One idea floated by Council President Sonja Walter is radKIDS, a self-defense and safety education program for children emphasizing hands-on demonstrations and a fun learning environment. Only Passaic County and West Windsor have radKIDS programs in New Jersey. Though attaching onto another town’s program sometimes works, Ms. Walter said the West Windsor program already is overloaded.
   Instead, police officers or volunteers can train to become local instructors or Washington can request radKIDS employees to run classes. Ms. Walter said she plans to research the program further and possibly request a line item in the 2006 budget to fund the program through the Police Department.