Legislators promise to support Dru’s Law

The congressional delegation representing the Inland Northwest is calling for a federal database to track sexual predators in the wake of the Groene tragedy.

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig plans to become a co-sponsor of Dru’s Law, which would establish a National Sex Offender Registry of anyone convicted of sex crimes against a minor and make that information available on the Internet. Members of the public could get the name, address, description and photograph of any sexual predator living near them, as well as details of that person’s conviction and parole status.

The law also requires each state to “intensively monitor, for at least one year” any sexual predator released from prison.

Craig, R-Idaho, spoke with Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson about the bill earlier in the week and will support the proposal when he returns to Washington, D.C., a spokesman said.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Friday she, too, is “absolutely” supporting Dru’s Law.

“Knowing where these people are is very important,” Cantwell said during a stop in Spokane to tour Sacred Heart Medical Center. While most states have some type of notification requirement when sex offenders are released, the rules differ from state to state.

“The problem is, how well does the notification work,” Cantwell said.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., also supports the bill, which has versions in both chambers, according to her spokeswoman. She supported a previous version, which passed the Senate in the last session of Congress but stalled in the House, spokeswoman Alex Glass said.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is also looking seriously at supporting the bill, although the Idaho State Patrol has raised some concerns about some requirements for new federal software, spokesman Lindsay Nothern said. Those problems can likely be worked out.

Crapo was in North Idaho earlier in the week and talked to several people who urged him to support the legislation, Nothern said.

“He’s definitely interested in it,” Nothern said. “Our phones are definitely ringing.”

Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, will likely support Dru’s Law if it’s the legislation that moves out of committee and onto the House floor, a spokesman said. Right now, Otter is a co-sponsor of another bill, which sets up a federal database of sex offenders without some of the financial penalties in Dru’s Law.

“He supports the concept, but he has a problem with one portion of Dru’s Law” that allows the federal government to withhold some crime funds if a state doesn’t comply with all the reporting requirements, spokesman Mark Warbus said.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., said she is looking at several bills, including Dru’s Law, but hasn’t decided on one particular proposal.

“She definitely supports legislation for stricter laws,” spokeswoman Jill Strait said.