Parents Outraged Over Proposed Sex Offender Group Home
Facility Must Be Built Somewhere In Jefferson County, Officials Say
Not in my backyard.
That's what hundreds of angry parents and homeowners said to officials Tuesday about a proposed group home for juvenile sex-offenders.
Jefferson County officials are considering building the home just north of Golden near Highway 93. Officials plan to consider the site to house and treat 60 male juvenile sex offenders.
Parents who live nearby were outraged, but officials said that they are bound by law to build the facility somewhere in Jefferson county.
"Sixty sex offenders within a mile of my house, it's too much. It's something as a parent you say, 'We can't deal with this problem,'" parent Mary Ann Gaughan (pictured, left) said.
"There is no appropriate place in the eyes of the community. Anywhere we go in the county, it's unacceptable," Jefferson County spokesperson John Masson said.
People attending the community meeting Tuesday night had to pass through a metal-detector because of threats made over the group home.
Two public hearings on the matter will be held between May and July before the county commissioners vote on the issue.
"Sixty sex offenders within a mile of my house, it's too much. It's something as a parent you say, 'We can't deal with this problem,'" parent Mary Ann Gaughan (pictured, left) said.
"There is no appropriate place in the eyes of the community. Anywhere we go in the county, it's unacceptable," Jefferson County spokesperson John Masson said.
People attending the community meeting Tuesday night had to pass through a metal-detector because of threats made over the group home.
Two public hearings on the matter will be held between May and July before the county commissioners vote on the issue.
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
