The Ohio Criminal Justice Recodification Committee, which makes changes to criminal codes, will vote whether to make changes to the sex offenders registry.
The committee calls the changes common sense changes that they say will still allow for community safety.
The changes would allow low-level sex offenders to petition to have their names removed from sex offender lists.
The committee will also vote whether to remove the residency requirement, meaning sex offenders could live near a school.
Katie Hanna, Executive Director of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, said the committee voting on the changes include judges, prosecutors, and public defenders, but she says victims should also be heard, especially if the proposal goes before state lawmakers for a final vote.
“From there the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence will submit a report to the legislature based on the recommendations and the voices of survivors,” Hanna said.
The committee was set to vote on the issue Thursday, but the agenda was too long, and they did not get to vote on the proposed changes to the sex offenders registry.
The committee meets again in January when they are expected to vote on the proposed changes.
