Note mention of 2 incidents involving RSOs (over 4-years) and no mention of other incidents (ex: here) by other patients, offenders, staff or volunteers. Why? 4-14-15 Iowa:
More than four years ago, The Des Moines Register reported that dozens of sex offenders were living in nursing homes alongside elderly, vulnerable Iowans.
The newspaper's February 2011 report detailed 27 sex offenders living in 15 different state-licensed residential care facilities for the elderly and disabled. Several months later, convicted sex offender William Cubbage sexually assaulted 95-year-old Mercedes Gottschalk inside the Pomeroy care center where they lived. The Register then examined skilled-nursing facilities in Iowa and found 42 sex offenders living in 21 such homes.
The following summer, 35-year-old Matthew T. Braun, who had a well-documented history of violence, was admitted to the Prairie View Residential Care Facility in Fayette County.
Sixteen days after he was admitted, a surveillance camera at the home captured Braun pushing a fellow resident to the floor, kicking him in the face, then kneeling on the floor and punching the man in the face 12 times. Several weeks later, the cameras allegedly recorded Braun attacking another resident, 57-year-old Kris Simpson. According to police, Braun repeatedly punched the unconscious Simpson in the face. Simpson later died of serious brain injuries, and Braun still is awaiting trial on a murder charge.
Initially, Iowa lawmakers expressed great indignation over these incidents.
But as public attention waned, so did the legislators' eagerness to take action. In fact, in each of the past three legislative sessions, lawmakers repeatedly talked about the need to prevent sexual predators and other violent criminals from taking up residence in traditional nursing homes, but at the end of the day nothing was done.
This year, the Iowa Senate passed a bill that would have focused specifically on sexually aggressive or combative residents with unmet psychiatric needs. It wouldn't have diverted those individuals from nursing homes, but it would have created a legislative study committee to examine the possibility of establishing one or more care facilities dedicated exclusively to the care of violent offenders.
That committee would have heard testimony from various companies and individuals who are invested in, or have expertise in, caring for the elderly. The committee would have then sent a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and the Legislature for consideration in 2016.
It wasn't much of a bill, but it would have been a long overdue first step toward some sort of meaningful action. Unfortunately, the House failed to address the issue and now, with the last of the "funnel deadlines" having passed, this legislation appears to be dead for the year. That means it will be 2017, if not later, before substantive changes are made in the way Iowa handles elderly, violent offenders.
Is it really asking too much of Iowa lawmakers to focus on issues like this rather than the legalization of silencers and fireworks? How many more vulnerable Iowans will have to be victimized before members of the Iowa Legislature decides this is an issue deserving of their time and attention? ..Source.. by The Register's Editorial
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