Juvenile Sex Offenders and Schools:
What your district needs to know
Welcome
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12:00 p.m. Welcome and introductions
 12:03 p.m. Juvenile sex offenders in schools
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Legal overview
Who are the juvenile sex offenders?
Lessons learned
Revised policy on JSO notification: what’s new?
Effective safety planning
12: 45 p.m. Q&A
Presented by:
Heidi Maynard, WSSDA; Kathleen Sande, OSPI; and Dawn Larsen, WASPC
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Nothing in this presentation should be
considered legal advice.
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No information in this presentation represents
the position of WSSDA, OSPI or WASPC on any
specific legal matter.
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Your district should seek professional legal
counsel before acting upon any information in
this presentation.
Constitutional Provisions
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U.S. Constitution /14th Amendment
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Washington Constitution, Article XXVI, Compact
with the United States (Fourth)
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Washington Constitution, ARTICLE IX, Section 1
Statutory and Rule Provisions
District responsibility:
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RCW 28A.150.210 Basic education –
Goals of school districts.
WAC 392-400-215(1)
Student responsibility:
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RCW 9A.44.130 (1)(b)(i)
Exception:
Juvenile Court Act
 RCW 13.40.215(5)
Upon discharge, parole, transfer to a community
residential facility, or other authorized leave or release,
a convicted juvenile sex offender shall not attend a
public or approved private elementary, middle or high
school that is attended by the victim or a sibling of a
victim of the sex offender.
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Typically between the age of 13 and 17
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Generally male
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30-60% exhibit learning disabilities and academic
dysfunction
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Up to 80% have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder
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Difficulties with impulse control and judgment
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20-50% have histories of physical abuse
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40-80% have histories of sexual abuse
CSOM, “Myths and Facts About Sex Offenders: Statistic and Characteristics of Adult and Juvenile
Offenders, available on CSOM website (http://www.csom.org)
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They have significant
problems in the following
areas:
 Social skills
 Peer relationships
 Social isolation
 Academic difficulties
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They often have lower
incidents of drug and alcohol
abuse and other criminal
behaviors.
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Juvenile sexual abusers have
higher rates of:
 Depression and mental
health problems
 Health problems at an
earlier age
 Fire setting and running
away
 Hyperactivity and
restlessness
 Sexual victimization
Schwartz, Barbara K. and Cellini, Henry R. (1995). The Sex Offender: Corrections, Treatment and
Legal Practices. 6, 1-11.
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The median age of offenders is 14 to 15.
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The median age of the victim is 7.
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Average number of victims is 7.
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Over 90% of sex offenses involved a victim the offender
knew.
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Most attend school and achieve at least average grades.
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25 to 33% have neurological impairment.
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Among other things, they are tall, short, heavy, thin,
humorous, serious, challenged, ambitious, curious and
resemble other peers their age.
Washington State Dispositions for
Juvenile Sex Offenses ‘08 – ‘10
LS
SSODA
JRA
2008
90
145
132
2009
80
129
123
2010
77
114
87
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
164
106
JRA In residence
JRA Parole
Data taken from Automated Client Tracking System 10/2013
ESSB 6580 required OSPI to convene a
workgroup in 2006:
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To develop a model policy for school principals
receiving sex offender notifications
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To provide safer school communities
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To encourage principals to develop working
relationships with local law enforcement
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Importance of
School-Law
Enforcement
Relationship
ESSB 6580 Recommendations:
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Both principals and superintendents need
notifications
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Board policies are needed in all districts (no
matter if they never have had a sex offender)
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Local law enforcement encouraged to work
closely with school principals
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When school staff work collaboratively with law
enforcement = safer schools & communities
In 2012, SSB 5204 required the revised policy:
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Clarified Superintendent responsibilities
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Re-stated responsibilities of Principals
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Added Student Safety Planning based upon
Harassment-Intimidating-Bullying protocols
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Added Model Safety Plan template
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Added checklists for the safety meetings
Step 3:
Step 2:
Step 1:
• student registration as a
Level I, II or II enrolling in
attending school OR
• when a student’s risk level
changes OR
• when Sheriff is notified of
student change of address
• Level I Offender: school
personnel who, in their
judgment, for security
purposes, should be aware
of the student’s records.
• Level II or III Offender:
every teacher of that
student plus any other
school personnel who, in
their judgment, should be
aware of the student’s
record.
• Kidnapping Offenders:
case-by-case basis.
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Development
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Implementation
Heidi Maynard, JD
Director of Policy and Legal Services,
Washington State School Directors’
Association
221 College Street NE
Olympia, WA 98516
360-252-3017
h.maynard@wssda.org
Kathleen O’Neill Sande
Institution Education Program Supervisor,
Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504
360-725-6046
kathleen.sande@k12.wa.us
Dawn Larsen
Director of Projects,
Washington Association of Sheriffs and
Police Chiefs
3060 Willamette Drive NE
Lacey, WA 98516
360-486-2419
Dlarsen@waspc.org