In Illinois, OakLawn Residents Petition to Ban Sexual Predators

Canton, Illinois -- The people of OakLawn apartments recently realized a sexual predator who was convicted for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child has been here at OakLawn on a daily basis. I live next door to his friends. I have notified the police, the property manager and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The apartment is within 100 feet of a head start bus stop, within a 100 feet of a community building that offers services to children. It is also within 500 feet of the more than three park areas on OakLawn apartment property.

After being threatened by my neighbor, I spoke with the police who advised me that a petition would be legal and usually effective in this situation. The police say because it is private property they cannot do anything unless the property manager bans the person from the property. According to law, unless the property manager gives permission, sexual predators are not allowed on private property within certain distances of schools, play areas, parks and bus stops. So if he is still on the property, then he is breaking the law or has permission from the landlord.

I drafted a petition and started knocking on doors. In the course of an hour, I had collected 26 signatures out of 30 possible. I ended up with 57 signatures of residents out of the 80 apartments. The petition was given to all levels of the Fulton County Housing Authority, the police and mailed to the States Attorney's office.