Flanagan publishes proposals to strengthen post-release supervision of sex offenders

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has published draft legislative proposals to strengthen post-release supervision of convicted sex offenders.

The proposed Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill sets out a number of amendments to the notification requirements (sex offenders register) currently provided for under the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

Mr Flanagan said: “I am pleased that the Cabinet today approved my proposals to publish the General Scheme of the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill.

“The draft legislation contains valuable provisions to assist in the management of serious sexual offenders upon their release.

“These proposed changes arise from a review of the management of sex offenders under that Act.”

The bill provides for stricter notification requirements which reduce the period in which offenders must notify gardaí of their address upon release, or any subsequent change of address, to three days.

It also includes provisions to allow for fingerprinting and photographing the offender, where necessary to confirm their identity.

Elsewhere, the new bill creates a statutory basis for the disclosure of information relating to an offender, such as the name, address and threat posed by the offender, in certain circumstances.

It also places the current systems for the assessment and management of convicted sex offenders on a statutory footing.

One of Mr Flanagan’s Cabinet colleagues, Independent TD Denis Naughten, welcomed the bill’s provision for a legal basis for electronic monitoring post-release of sex offenders.

Mr Naughten said: “Providing courts with the option of mandating electronic monitoring in high risk cases is something I have long advocated for, and indeed, ensured was included in the Programme for Government. I am delighted to see the inclusion of this measure in the General Scheme of this important Bill.”

The General Scheme will now be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny.