Group homes in bill's cross hairs
Measure would ban youth offenders from residential areas
Legislation passed by the House Political Subdivisions Committee Thursday would prohibit group homes for such offenders in residential areas, a move spurred by a proposal to put a rehabilitative home in the middle of a Holladay neighborhood.
"We're not out to shut down all group homes within the area, but I think there's a line of reason we don't want to be crossing," said Holladay City Manager Randy Fitts.
That line, according to HB94, stops at minors convicted of violent offenses. The measure would disallow group homes with violent offenders from moving into neighborhoods zoned for single family residential.
"We want to hedge our bet the best we can to protect our neighborhoods and our children and our elderly population," said Rep. Susan Lawrence, R-Salt Lake. "There is not a uniform way of dealing with these group homes. The supervision seems fairly minimal."
In Holladay, Futures Through Choices group homes wants to place five male adjudicated offenders from the Division of Juvenile Justice in a home at 2180 E. Sunnybrook Way. According to the division's description, the men, ages 16-21 with low IQs, "may have displayed predatory or fixated patterns of offending, use of force or weapons in committing offenses" and "present a significant risk to the community." The home could also include sex offenders.
That description led Fitts to deny the group home's application Dec. 6. Holladay officials are now facing a lawsuit from Futures Through Choices claiming the denial violates the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Utah Fair Housing Act. The suit also claims the decision was based on "stereotypes, fear and hatred."
Fitts, however, maintains the decision was based solely on the potential danger to the neighborhood if a group home resident went AWOL.
"The type of people they are bringing in adjudicated sex offenders is inappropriate for any area, especially a completely residential area," Fitts said.
But Rep. Brad King, D-Price, said he was concerned that striking neighborhood homes as an option for the Division of Juvenile Justice may impair rehabilitation and assimilation back into the community.
"The hope is that all people, especially juveniles, can be rehabilitated, and at some point there has to be a transitional phase living in a residential area," he said. "Either we believe that or we don't."
Though the bill will eliminate group homes from areas zoned solely for residential, Lawrence noted that it will allow such sites in mixed-use areas near residential neighborhoods.
"This is not a situation where we're putting them off in a corner and not allowing them back into our communities," she said. "We are in no way asking that these homes be in isolation."
E-mail: estewart@desnews.com
Comments
- 5 hurt in latest Pamplona bull run 8:49 a.m.
- Delay in Jackson guardianship case 8:47 a.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- Man spots his stolen car 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Death investigated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Man spots his stolen car
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...



You can be the first to comment on this story.