Samoa Studies Am Samoa Sex Offender Registry

pm-tuilaepa

The American Samoa Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Code 2014 came under close examination by the Samoa Law Reform Commission as they looked at establishing a similar registered for sex offenders in Samoa.

This was revealed in the final report on the Sex Offenders Register released this week after approval by the Samoan Cabinet.

According to the report,  American Samoa case was amongst a group of seven countries with established Sex Offenders Registers examined by the Samoa Law Reform Commission to help make final decisions and recommendations in drafting a bill to be tabled in Parliament to establish the registry.

In his address during the launch of the final report, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said the Commission developed a Sex Offenders Registration Bill which reflected the recommendations made in the final report.

“Although the Sex Offenders Register Final Report was completed 2 years ago, its official launch today is fitting given the prevalence of sexual crimes in Samoa and the pending enactment of the Sex Offender Registration Bill 2017,” said the Prime Minister.

This bill is now with the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly for tabling before the Parliament.

Tuilaepa went on to say that the Commission’s Final Report highlights that between 2009 and 2013, there were 535 crimes of a sexual nature reported to the Ministry of Police.

He said this was an overall trend showing a 20% increase in reported sexual crimes from 2009 to 2013.

The most common types of reported sexual crimes include rape, indecent assault and attempted rape.

“A key aim of the Commission’s Final Report was to therefore consider if and how a Sex Offenders Register could better protect victims of sexual crimes, including children, and reduce sexual crime in Samoa,” said Tuilaepa.

The Samoa Law Reform Commission recommended the establishment of a Sex Offenders Register through legislation called the Sex Offender Registration Act. The purpose of the Sex Offenders Register for Samoa includes:

  • Assisting in law enforcement and crime prevention
  • Requiring offenders who commit registrable offences to provide personal details to the Ministry of Police and keep them informed of their whereabouts
  • Requiring persons who move to Samoa or are deported to Samoa following a sexual conviction overseas, to provide personal details to the Ministry of Police and keep them informed of their whereabouts
  • To assist in the monitoring and management of sex offenders in the community and
  • To reduce sexual re – offending.

The Sex Offender Registration Bill is expected to be passed in the current session of Parliament.

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