Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

CONVICTED SEX offenders could soon have their names splashed across Jamaica's towns and communities for at least 10 years.

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that the drafted sex offenders legislation proposes that the names of persons convicted of sex crimes be placed on the sex offenders' registry for life.

However, the offender's name may be removed from the registry if there is no recurrence of sexual crime within 10 years.

Speedy debate

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has promised that the sex offenders bill would be debated by month end. He is also hopeful that it would come into law by Christmas.

"The cooperation of members will be sought for speedy debate and early passage," Golding said in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He was responding to questions tabled by opposition backbencher, Sharon Hay-Webster. The South Central St Catherine member of parliament questioned whether Government was committed to establishing the sex offenders' registry.

Golding told the House that the draft bill had been completed and had been circulated to stakeholders for comment. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon, at which time the prime minister said he hoped Parliament would work overtime to get it passed.

"I am going to urge members, let us meet Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to deal with it," Golding said.

Monitoring arm

Informed sources say the sex offenders' registry will have a monitoring arm that will keep a watch on all registered sex offenders.

Under the proposed legislation, a sex offender who transplants himself from one part of the country to another will have his history brought to the attention of institutions such as police stations and schools so they can keep an eye out for him.

The Gleaner was unable to ascertain what level of sensitisation would be employed by the State to complement the establishment of the sex offenders' registry.

Hay-Webster, who has been a strong proponent of the sex offenders' registry, said in Parliament last week that sexual offences must be treated as a public-health issue.

"The most important thing for me, with regard to the sex offenders' registry, is the preparation of the communities," Hay-Webster said. She added that if the communities are not prepared, "absolute justice" might inappropriately be applied to the offender.

There are no known studies on the causes of sexual offences or any tracer studies on sex offenders in Jamaica.

Crime of youth

In the United States, however, a 1990 study concluded "rape is a crime of youth".

The study found that 61 per cent of rapes occurred before the victim was 18; 29 per cent before the victim was 11.

Researchers have agreed that men intimidate women by their sheer size and strength. Women do not usually fight back because they fear serious physical harm or death, or because they are paralysed by a psychological state called frozen fright.

Golding has admitted that the legislation alone will not help to protect the vulnerable, especially children, from sex crimes.

"It is going to be important for us to sensitise communities and to get them involved. Our communities are not taking care of our children. Our communities have become careless and very often, they are more protective of the abuser than they are of the victim," he said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

Rape facts

Police statistics have indicated that there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of sexual crimes against minors.

There has been a 7.5 per cent increase in the cases of carnal abuse for the period January 1 to October 12, compared to the corresponding period last year.

There appears to be an increase in the incidence of attempted abduction, rape and murder of women and children in recent months.