The City of South St. Paul is considering a legal restriction defining where people deemed Level 3 offenders can live within their city. City officials have discussed borders that require a certain prohibitive distance from places where children gather such as parks, schools, daycares even on corners where children assemble regularly to board school busses. Legal action is expected but Chief Messerich points to extreme concern on the part of the community that the recent addition of 3 new residents that have been given the Level Three designation, meaning likely to reoffend, has produced anger and other strong emotions on an issue that is not really new. Dakota county Sheriff Tim Leslie reflected that thought in a recent conversation on the subject.
The South St. Paul Chief expects civil rights advocates to take up the issue and legal ramifications aside, feels the topic will be one where there are no clear answers in how to balance the relocation process in fairness to everyone involved. Sheriff Leslie expressed a simple avoidance technique may be one answer.
South St. Paul will continue to debate this issue and it may play a role in the upcoming elections, where Mayor Baumann will not be seeking another term.
