Sex Offender Posting
Recently the media has come alive with cases where sex offenders, some out on bond, some on parole and others just out, have committed crimes against children of such proportions that even the most liberal thinker would agree… the public needs to know who these predators are and where they are.
Not true.
I recently saw an article from Florida where a sex offender had been released from a mental institution and discovered his picture prominently posted in his neighborhood. He committed suicide. People became outraged and started to demand that the practice of posting these convicted offenders stop.
As I write the US Department of Justice is making a website which will give links to all states who post their registered sex offenders. A note to their e-mail to me was that Washington only publishes those who have committed crimes against children. Those fine people in the northwest feel it is right to protect an offender who violently beats rapes an adult woman. Actually, one who would rape and kill his victim would be protected also. Murders don’t get posted anywhere that I know of.
I’ve been known to hang a tad on the left when it comes to social issues in general and a giant step from center on women and children’s issues, so I have spent a lot of time trying to see the other side. I cannot however, find any logic which would make me want to protect from society and future victims the identities of those who are level three and four sex offenders.
If you didn’t know, level one and two sex offenders are not published anywhere. Level three and four… those evaluated as likely and highly likely to re-offend are the only ones posted on state websites and only level four are posted in their neighborhoods.
Our Florida fellow must have been a level four to see his picture.
Come on folks, it has taken our Government, state and federal over two hundred years to say that the public and victims have at least as many rights and offenders in just a few areas. Let’s not take a step backwards and allow any repeal or softening on those who chose to violate women and children.
On a related issue, I believe every employee and volunteer of every public and private school, day care and charity (Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs etc.) that work with children have a background check. What do you think? Would you like to help with a legislative effort to make background checks a law? E-Mail me… my address can be located on the main page of our website. Our website is listed in the Blog Profile.
Not true.
I recently saw an article from Florida where a sex offender had been released from a mental institution and discovered his picture prominently posted in his neighborhood. He committed suicide. People became outraged and started to demand that the practice of posting these convicted offenders stop.
As I write the US Department of Justice is making a website which will give links to all states who post their registered sex offenders. A note to their e-mail to me was that Washington only publishes those who have committed crimes against children. Those fine people in the northwest feel it is right to protect an offender who violently beats rapes an adult woman. Actually, one who would rape and kill his victim would be protected also. Murders don’t get posted anywhere that I know of.
I’ve been known to hang a tad on the left when it comes to social issues in general and a giant step from center on women and children’s issues, so I have spent a lot of time trying to see the other side. I cannot however, find any logic which would make me want to protect from society and future victims the identities of those who are level three and four sex offenders.
If you didn’t know, level one and two sex offenders are not published anywhere. Level three and four… those evaluated as likely and highly likely to re-offend are the only ones posted on state websites and only level four are posted in their neighborhoods.
Our Florida fellow must have been a level four to see his picture.
Come on folks, it has taken our Government, state and federal over two hundred years to say that the public and victims have at least as many rights and offenders in just a few areas. Let’s not take a step backwards and allow any repeal or softening on those who chose to violate women and children.
On a related issue, I believe every employee and volunteer of every public and private school, day care and charity (Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs etc.) that work with children have a background check. What do you think? Would you like to help with a legislative effort to make background checks a law? E-Mail me… my address can be located on the main page of our website. Our website is listed in the Blog Profile.
posted by The Merlin Foundation | 10:26 AM
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