Sheriff's office mulls charging sex offenders to register

Here is a new twist on fees, different amounts based on a registrant's Tier level. Lets not forget that any fee is an unjust enrichment because law enforcement also gets grants to cover expenses. Then additional amounts from higher Tier folks, talk about scamming this takes the cake, hopefully courts will feel the same way.

6-20-2011 Ohio:

NEWARK -- In several Ohio counties, registering sex offenders soon might have a new price to pay for their crimes.

The Licking County Sheriff's Office is considering charging those who have committed sex crimes to register for the database in hopes of offsetting the costs of notifying residents when one has moved into the area, Capt. Dave Starling said.

"What we are doing right now is we are actually exploring," he said. "I know there's some things in the Ohio Revised Code regarding what we can and can't charge, and we are in the process of doing that."

Although nothing is official, Starling said the sheriff's office is looking at costs involved when a person registers as a sex offender.

"We're just looking at the options and what it's costing us," he said. "There is a cost to us to mail out notification letters and stuff like that."

Still, Starling warned charging people to register as sex offenders will not discourage them from committing such crimes.

"I don't think charging for sex offender registration is a deterrent," he said.

In Highland County, sex offenders already are being charged to register. The price is based on the classification of their crime.

Tier I offenders pay a $25 fee to register annually. It costs Tier II offenders $25 to register about twice per year, or every 180 days. Tier III offenders face a $100 fee and have to register four times each year, or every 90 days.

Offenders in Ross County also can expect similar fees, and the policy should be in effect soon, Sheriff George Lavender said. ..Source.. by Libby Cunningham