Sex Offender Forum in Cranston: State Rep. Lancia Wants Parents in on Discussion

CRANSTON, RI—According to the Parole Board's sex offender registry, 185 registered sex offenders are currently living in Cranston. Providence has a few more, with 223, but the city with the third most registered sex offenders, Woonsocket, has only 91, fewer than half Cranston's tally.

State Rep. Robert B. Lancia (R-District 16 Cranston) believes those 185 are too many for Cranston. He will host a series of constituent forums at elementary schools in District 16 "to discuss the growing and potentially dangerous sex offender population" here, according to the press release from the House Minority Office.

"The three forums will be an opportunity for Rep. Lancia to inform concerned constituents, educational leaders and parents about the dangers looming at Harrington Hall, a homeless shelter, which houses an inordinate number of high-level sex offenders," the office said.

Lancia currently has two bills being considering by the legislature, House bill No. 5159, which would limit the number of sex offenders at any given State funded facility to no more than 10 percent of the population. Rep. Lancia’s other bill, House bill No. 5207, would require sex offenders to register with law enforcement within one hour of their checking in.

“The situation at Harrington Hall is a tragedy waiting to happen," he said. "I have three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school within walking distance of Harrington Hall. Sex offenders are being released from the shelter at 7 a.m. and not allowed back into the facility until 5 p.m., and I feel there is a high potential for someone to commit an unthinkable act, which can never be undone. Moreover, during the summer months, when the children are out of school and these people are wandering the streets, it is only a matter of time before something terrible happens and then it’s too late.”

Here are the dates and locations,

Glen Hills Elementary School Saturday, April 8 3 to 4 p.m.

Garden City Elementary School Sunday, April 9, 2 to 3 p.m.

Waterman Elementary School Monday, April 10, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.