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CD of Live 90-Minute Telephone Conference Presented by: International Municipal Lawyers Association and Municipal Litigation Reporter Conducted on December 6, 2005 Now available on CD |
The February 2005 murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford at the hands of a convicted sex offender who had failed to register with the Florida authorities ignited a debate in communities across the United States about the best way to help protect against the sexual predator threat.
In June, two cities responded by adopting new ordinances that begin to address this troubling challenge.
- Miami Beach, Florida enacted an ordinance requiring sex offenders to live at least 2500 feet from a school. The ordinance, which at the time was one of the most restrictive of its type, has since been requested by nearly 50 Florida municipalities and an additional 20 cities across the US.
- Laredo, Texas adopted an ordinance that restricts the access that convicted child sex offenders have to city parks frequented by children.
At the same time, cities such as Binghamton, New York are now embroiled in litigation over an ordinance that restricts where sex offenders can live within that city.
The question becomes: have restrictive ordinances gone too far?
Join IMLA and your colleagues across the country for a 90-minute telephone conference that will explore how communities can offer a measured and reasonable response to the threat posed by sex offenders. This program will feature:
- A discussion of relevant case law from around the country, including the Eighth Circuit's recent decision in Doe v. Miller, which upheld an Iowa law that prohibited sex offenders from living within 2500 feet of a school.
- Analysis of new types of ordinances that communities are using to deal with the threat of sexual predators.
- Attorneys from Miami Beach and Laredo talk about the new ordinances in their respective communities and offer tips for other cities that are considering similar measures.
Our authoritative panelists include:
Murray H. Dubbin is the City Attorney for Miami Beach, Florida. Previously he was a partner in several Miami area law firms, where he represented numerous public clients, including the State of Florida and the Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency. He was also a member of the Florida House of Representatives for 11 years.
V. Melissa Saldaña is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Laredo, Texas. Previously she was a private attorney in a general practice law firm, focusing on criminal law.
Richard R. Whidden, Jr. is Executive Director and Senior Counsel of the National Law Center for Children and Families. Previously he served as Interim County Attorney for Flagler County, Florida, attorney for the City of Gainesville, Florida, Assistant Attorney General of Florida, and Assistant General Counsel to the Florida Department of State.
Douglas C. Haney (moderator) has been City Attorney for Carmel, Indiana, since 1997. He previously served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Army and as a private practitioner. He has appeared before many federal and state courts and agencies, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
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TELECONFERENCE CD
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Municipal Litigation Reporter. Teleconmmunications Issues for Local Governments. Class Action Law Monitor. Securities Class Action Reporter.
Church-State Litigation Digest. Municipal Authority Litigation - A Casebook.