ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The devil is in the details for a school under construction in St. Joe.
Dozens of sex offenders surround a St. Joseph elementary school being built and their presence is legal.
The new Carden Park Elementary is being built on land once called the "Devil's Backbone." Land, that according to city council records, was donated by the city to the school district.
“Well, I’m glad to know that the price of land is more important that our children's safety. Why would they put a school in an area that knowingly has that many people who could hurt our children?” said parent Robin Carl.
“Its a little disturbing,” said another parent, Gary Kirkpatrick.
According to the Missouri sex offender registry, 81 registered sex offenders live or work within a one mile radius of the school's front doors.
“That is very, very concerning as a parent. And not just as a parent but as a citizen of this town, why anybody would put anything that involves children in a pedophile's area is beyond my comprehension and it honestly just makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it,” Carl said.
But under Missouri law, if the offenders were there before the school was open, they can stay. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of compliance for area sex offenders. Captain Mark Brock says the department has a zero-tolerance policy for those required to register.
Captain Brock also admitted the stats are alarming, and to his knowledge, the department was never consulted by the school district.
“I don't recall any of my people out of my division or the sheriff's office sex offender registry being asked to attend any meetings,” Brock said.
Retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Sheldon Lyon, who now works for the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council, says for parents, information is power.
“Make sure you find your safe way to school. Get online, figure out the safe route for your child. If they are a young child, always have a parent or guardian walk them to school. If they're an older kid, walk together and never deviate from the route,” Lyon said.
To search for registered sex offenders in your area in Missouri visit the Missouri Highway Patrol sex offender registry website. In Kansas, visit the Kansas Bureau of Investigations sex offender registry.
Ben
If the adults aren’t able to make good decisions, is it any wonder our kids are testing so poorly?
Jean
Just another news media that loves to instill fear and paranoia over nothing. His many of those registered citizens were due to Romeo & Juliet cases? How many are kids themselves? How many are due to kids sexting or streaking? How many are due to public urination?
Even those with more serious crimes, they have a 3-5% reoffense rate, whereas 95% of new crimes committed are by persons not in the registry. Of that number, 93% are committed by family or those close to the family (friend, coach, clergy, etc).
The media needs to stop preaching ‘stranger danger’ when it is more likely to be committed by someone known to the child.
Melinda Squibblyy Mullens
Your statistcs are completely wrong. Not sure where you got them from, but it is incorrect information. Either way, statistics are only based on those who are CAUGHT. Regardless, even with all the statistics in the world, it only takes one time, or one person who strays from the statisical norm. 2 years ago, my son almost died from an illness that statistics said he should’ve been completely safe/healthy with. Are you willing to gamble your child’s wellbeing and possibly even life on a statistic? I know I’m not.
TinaD
Actually, those stats are pretty accurate. I looked them up on the DOJ.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsorp94.pdf
Sex Crime Re-arrest Rate: 5.3%
Sex Crime Re-conviction Rate: 3.5%
Phil
Within a 1 mile radius? Is that any different than in Kansas City? Give St. Joe a break! Seriously!
John
It’s only the ones that get caught that count. The rest is suspicion.
Anonymous
This area of St. Joseph was one of the few places where there wasn’t a school inside the restricted area for these people. The local school district dropped this into the area either knowing or not knowing what would happen once the media found out. Just another screw up for the SJSD.
Brian
Maybe instead of paying out all those stipends the school board should of done some research!!!
Dan Leidal
The school board members need to be raked over the coals for this!!! And the sex offenders may have a legal case against the school district!!! This is disgusting, just because the land was donated by the city!!!
Alan Bevier
Retrospective application of these laws had been deemed acceptable by our Missouri supreme court. Your sheriff’s depth should enforce the our courts most recent ruling and get ALL sex offenders at least 1000ft from our schools.
Check out http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/CRID/SOR/factsheet.html and look at ruling SC92382
Kimberly
So you mean to say, the sec offenders have more rights than the children who rely on adults to keep them safe?