The "SAFE NOW ACT of 2007" was introduced on January 5, 2007 as HR 291. This bill is identical to the former HR 4815 introduced in 2006 and passed in a more general version as a section of the "Adam Walsh Law" signed by President Bush. Although a more general version has been signed into law, the bill was re-introduced to send a message to Congress of the full intent for a National Sex Offender Risk Classification Task Force.

Read a letter of support posted on www.congress.org
H.R. 291- Safe Now Act of 2007

February 13, 2007

Dear Representative King,

I am writing you today to ask for your support for a piece of legislation that I feel is important. Fellow Congressman Paul Gillmor is trying to pass House Resolution 291 the Safe Now Act of 2007. This resolution, as stated by Ohio Rep. Gillmor, would be designed to create a task force that helps classify sex offenders according to their risk. The other agendas are to help educate the public about the dangers of offenders, identify the strengths and weaknesses of current laws on the Federal, State and local level.

I feel very passionate about this piece of legislation because I am the husband and uncle of abuse survivors. I feel that if this piece of legislation where to become law it would bring me and my family great relief knowing that something is being done to protect our youth. As a student and future Social Worker this piece of legislation will come in handy when working with abuse victims. Since social work can take you across state lines sometimes especially in the city I live in, Sioux City, which borders on three states. If each of these states were to follow the same laws for classifying offenders then it would help relieve some stress with my future job as a Social Worker. As a Social Worker I would inevitably work with victims of sexual abuse and if this law were in place it would make this issue unproblematic for them and me. As it is right now it is up to the State and local law enforcement on what should be published or not published on the registry. This makes it tough for cities like Sioux City and the citizens that reside within their limits to feel safe.

I implore you to help pass this piece of legislation, H.R. 291, quickly for all the victims in the United States and especially for those in the State of Iowa. As of this letter there are over 6,000 offenders on the registry. Research has shown that the average number of unknown victims per offender is over a hundred victims this is per two or less known victims. That is over a half a million victims that have gone unreported who need to feel safe also. The average time these offenders are victimizing people before they get caught is 16 years. Once they are caught, since there is all this research that shows the potential that they are more likely to re-offend, I believe they should be able to be picked out and classified by risk and monitored for the public's safety.

I would be grateful to you if you helped support and pass this piece of legislation. I know my family and fellow neighbors would be able to sleep well knowing that our government is doing something to help protect our youth.

Thanks for your time and support,

Donald W. Warneke
Sioux City , IA

NOTE: The SAFE NOW ACT of 2006 was introduced in Congress (HR 4815) originally on February 28, 2006 to establish a National Sex Offender Risk Classification Task Force to create guidelines for a risk-based sex offender classification system.

• For an explanation of this bill, click here.

• Download a news release on the SAFENOWPROJECT released on 03-07-2006.

• Learn how risk classification can promote public safety.

• Download a map explaining why the "SAFE NOW ACT" is needed.