Judge seeks safeguards for nursing home residents

WARREN — Judge Thomas A. Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court is seeking help from a variety of places to give greater protection to nursing home residents from registered sex offenders.

Judge Swift, president of the Ohio Association of Probate Judges, recently wrote to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to inform him of his concern for the safety of nursing home residents after he learned that more than 3,000 registered sex offenders live in Ohio nursing homes.

Judge Swift added that Ohio law does not require nursing homes to notify their residents, prospective residents, family members or guardians that registered sex offenders live in the facility.

“In fact, some nursing homes may be soliciting registered sex offenders and transferring them between homes to fill beds,” he wrote. It also appears that some states are sending their registered sex offenders to Ohio, he said.

For complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.