Plaisance seeks more identification for sex offenders

Abbeville Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance spent 20 years investigating child abuse cases for the state.
Safety of children remains one of his concerns, with a recent focus placed on a push to make it easier to identify registered sex offenders.
“There are 77 registered sex offenders in the City of Abbeville alone,” Plaisance said. “The current law prohibits these offenders from being 1000 feet from schools, day care centers, recreation parks, etc.
“There is no way for law enforcement to identify them when they are riding in their vehicles, unless they are stopped for traffic violations.”
At Plaisance’s insistence, a step has recently been taken to possibly change that.
The Abbeville City Council on a 5-0 vote passed a resolution requesting that state legislators pass a bill requiring vehicle and license identification for registered sex offenders. The next state legislative session is set to begin on April 13, 2015.
“I thought about some ordinance in the City of Abbeville,” Plaisance explained, “but after speaking with the Sheriff’s Department official Col. Frith, it was suggested that the idea should be addressed on the state level.”
Plaisance stressed that it is a situation that simply needs to be forefront for everyone.
“I spent 20 years in Child Abuse Investigations for the state and am very familiar with Sexual Abuse Perpetrators,” Plaisance said.
“They are predators and it is frustrating for me to see them riding around neighborhoods, schools and day care centers.
“I think this move would be something that would be an added protection to our children.”
Plaisance said that is his only concern in this matter.
“All across the country, from time to time, these individuals kidnap and murder innocent children,” Plaisance said. “I would hope that this would never happen in our area.
“I want to submit this to our legislative body and see if they can help address this.”