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Sex Offenders: A Ban on Working With Children, A Consultation Paper

NCJ Number
176413
Author(s)
B Moxon
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This consultation paper covers proposals to create a new offense of seeking work with children for those convicted of sex offenses in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Abstract
Because sex offenders are often highly manipulative and are likely to reoffend, the government is determined to give the public greater protection from them. Legislation is being introduced to require convicted sex offenders to notify the police of a change of name or address and to increase the postrelease supervision of sex offenders. Proposals for enhanced criminal conviction and criminal intelligence before Parliament will be a valuable means of enabling employers in sensitive areas to check on those seeking work with them. The government proposes it should be an offense for anyone convicted of a qualifying sex offense to seek work or training involving unsupervised contact with children, to accept an offer of work or training involving unsupervised contact with children, to offer services or agree to provide services involving unsupervised contact with children, or to enroll in a training course that will involve having unsupervised contact with children. The proposals are designed to deter pedophiles from trying to gain work with children in such areas as schools, nurseries, residential care homes, babysitting, youth clubs, church activities, sports coaching, foster care, and adoption. The proposals are analyzed in relation to qualifying offenses, time limitations, and appeal provisions. Annexes provide additional information on qualifying offenses and a list of questions for use in determining how the proposals should be applied.