[NIFL-FAMILY:423] Re: Question about sex-offender policy

From: Betsy Cornwell (Betsy_Cornwell@sad17.k12.me.us)
Date: Thu Nov 29 2001 - 09:06:25 EST


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From: "Betsy Cornwell" <Betsy_Cornwell@sad17.k12.me.us>
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Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:423] Re: Question about sex-offender policy
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I used to work with a program where the issue did come up.  Here is my
advice:

Find out if the offender has a restraining order forbidding contact with
children.  The person I worked with was actually unaware of the details of
his restraining order.  Don't hesitate to ask for permission to speak with
the person's lawyer so you can be sure what is or is not allowed.  By
including the offender in family events or allowing him/her to visit a
child's classroom, you could be running the risk of facilitating parole
violations which could result in a return to incarceration.  When talking
to an offender, stress that you can't do effective teaching unless all
children and parents feel safe in your program and that you also don't
want anything to happen that would cause more trouble for the offender.

Home visits can be a good way to provide services to an offender who is
prohibited from contact with other children.

Your first priority is to do all you can to ensure a safe learning
environment for the children in your program.  Sometimes you may have to
limit adult access to services in order to do that.

Be alert to the signs of abuse in the offender's children.  Each situation
is different and you can't assume that all sexual offenders molest their
own children.  On the other hand, I think we are all mandated reporters
and for some very strange reason, it seems that sometimes an offender's
own children are the last to be protected.

Betsy Cornwell, coordinator
West Paris Family Learning Project
Agnes Gray School
170 Main St.
West Paris  ME  04289
(207) 674-2332
betsy_cornwell@sad17.k12.me.us



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