State of Iowa Representative: Beth Wessel-Kroeschell - District 45

Stronger, Smarter Sex Offender Laws…A bipartisan group of members from the House and Senate crafted a bill this session to make Iowa’s sex offender laws both stronger and smarter. The bill was also passed after new federal requirements were approved in the Adam Walsh Act, which strengthens penalties for crimes against children and standardizes sex offender registries across the country. At a rare joint House and Senate public hearing at the State Capitol, Iowans made clear they support a stronger, smarter sex offender law. This message came not only from law enforcement officials across Iowa, but also from victims, county attorneys, family members of victims and offender themselves.
First, county sheriffs would collect more information from all sex offenders so that it is easier to keep track of them. Iowans can still track sex offenders in their neighborhood on Iowa’s sex offender registry at www.iowasexoffender.com.  Second, the plan strengthens Iowa law for sex offenders who committed an offense against a child. Current Iowa law only restricts where child sex offenders sleep at night, not where they can go during the day.