Mo. senator proposes making sex offender registry retroactive

Republican Sen. Jason Crowell hopes Missouri voters will have the chance next year to decide whether to make the state's sex offender registry retroactive.

Missouri's sex offender registry law became effective in 1995 requiring anyone convicted of a violent sex crime and predators to register with the chief local law enforcement agency in their county, Crowell said.

A June ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court disallowed registration by sex offenders if their convictions occurred prior to the date the law took effect. About 4,000 names were removed from the registry after the ruling.

Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and Sen. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis, proposed an amendment that would make an exception for sex offender registration, so all offenders and predators register in their county no matter when the conviction occurred.

The proposal passed the Senate unopposed Thursday, Crowell said, and has been sent to the House for review.

If it passes the House, voters will see it on the ballot in 2008.

Crowell said he had overwhelming support from constituents, law enforcement agencies and bipartisan support by the Senate.

"Every member in the Senate believes it makes no sense whatsoever to have only sex offenders register from 1995 forward," Crowell said. "It is the right thing to do for the protection of our community."

Crowell worked with Cape Girardeau County prosecutor Morley Swingle.

Swingle said Thursday he estimated there may be as many as a dozen unregistered sex offenders legally residing in Cape Girardeau County limits.

If voters approve the amendment in 2008, they will be required to register.

"I very much hope this will be submitted to the voters to close this loophole," he said.

carel@semissourian.com

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