Sex Offenders Figure Inaccurate

In your March 20 Q&A; with the Rev. Wiley S. Drake of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, he said, “Children are threatened because one-third of all the registered sex offenders in the state live in and around the Anaheim-Buena Park area.”

We believe it is important that accurate information reach the public regarding that statement.

Information obtained from the state of California, Department of Justice, as of March 1, 1996, reveals the following: Within California, there are 62,833 registered sex offenders. Of that number, in all of Orange County there are 3,404, and in the city of Buena Park, 111. Obviously, this is far less than one-third of all the registered sex offenders in the state.

Rev. Drake’s contention that one-third of the state total, which equates to over 20,000 individual offenders, live in and around the Anaheim-Buena Park area, is not only unfounded but absurd.

Recently, the California Department of Justice published a document indicating those convicted sex offenders who have been identified as high risk for child molestation. In the state, 951 of these individuals were identified. There are 57 in Orange County, one of whom is in Buena Park.

We, as well as the public, are concerned when any person who is a registered sex offender lives in our community. We are also concerned that accurate information be given to the public and residents of our community. It is the responsibility of the person making the statement that they be correct.

DON R. GRIFFIN

DONALD L. BONE

Buena Park council members