Joe,
I know your passion for Sex Offender Laws here in Md. But at the same time we must not allow our hearts to build and lead our fears. And allow laws to be written hastily and pushed through the system to give the public a false sense of security , when in fact it does nothing to protect the public other than gaining votes for those who pushed the hastily written bills to laws. We all know we need laws in our country ,but at the same time the laws needs to be fair and just and have meaning and bring proper justice for all. As we all know the Md.'s Sex Offenders List is flawed badly and is growing in record numbers and the cost of running the complete program in Md. is raising just as fast. Sooner or later the budget will crash and where will it end and how will it effect the Sex Offender Program. The list is growing to the point that we no longer know who the real threats are to the public and some are on it for life with no way off of it. That to me is crazy and amounts to a death penatly and causes the list to grow even larger and takes up law enforcement time to register them every three months and the time to visit their homes for life and that could be 10-70 years of work per registrant that could be cleared if those on it for life be allowed at some point to go in front of a board and prove they are no longer a threat and be pulled off the list.Even is this is not a option, maybe after a x-amount of years of no new convictions of any type these on for life could be pulled off the public access list and be put on a Law Enforcement only list to allow the more recent offenders to be tracked better. This would free up Law Enforcement time to track and watch those who are a more recent and possible threat to the public.
One of the biggest myths that is told to the public to keep them scared and to back any new Sex Offender Laws is the so-called recidivism rate of sex offenders. Well studies have been done in many states and with the d.o.j. to prove that this is not the case and in fact the recidivism rate for sex offenders is well under many if not most other offenders.This myth needs to be researched here in Md. and the truth be told to the public and then maybe the right changes can be done regarding not only sex offender laws , but changes to the sex offender list so the public can be properly informed and not just giving a false sense of security as they asre now being giving at a high cost to taxpayers in Maryland.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Spoken like a true sex offender that wants to be pulled off of the list that protects us and our children.
ReplyDeleteTommy Leggs was a recidivism idiot/ offender that resulted in an 11 year olds death. I'm sure there are many more who do not repeat, but knowing as a male how sexual instincts work in males, I think registration and contact is important. We all want the same things; freedom, forgiveness, and punishment. But at what cost?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete...but knowing as a male how sexual instincts work in males, I think registration and contact is important....
March 1, 2012 7:59 PM
I would prefer to think registration and castration is more important!
agree 8:15
ReplyDeletesomething else to think about???????
ReplyDeleteThe Forgotten Children (Life as a Child of a Sex Offender)
I would like to take the time to tell you what it is like to be a child of a Sex Offender.
I wake up every day wondering how many signs may be on our front lawn. How many people are going to ride by our house and point and take pictures? How many people are going to watch every move we make today? How many times are people going to call the police because my parent has done something, which for an average person would be normal but because they know a Sex Offender lives here that activity with their child looks suspicious?
How many more birthdays will be with just family because parents will not let their kids come to my party. How many parties will I not be invited to? How many more games will my parent not be allowed to watch me play? How many field trips will I not attend because it is too hard to listen to the whispers of the parents?
Are we gonna have to move again because my parent cannot find a job to pay for rent? Are we gonna have to stay in the car again; because it is hard to find a place to live, because our government has decided we are Prohibited to live in Low Income Housing????
How many YEARS am I gonna have to watch my parent cry with frustration because they can’t provide even the simplest life for our family. Some kids can’t even have any contact with their parent!!
Why is it everyone wants to Protect children but NO ONE thinks about me or kids in the same situation as me?? Can anyone answer that question??? Why do we not count?
I was always taught to do the right thing and if you didn’t you would have to pay for it. I did not know that meant you would pay for the rest of your life. I did not know that people would treat you as an outcast forever!!!! The Bible says; you should forgive.
The Constitution (which I learned in school) says we have rights, but it seems to me if your parent is a Sex Offender the Constitution DOES NOT APPLY. Otherwise how could they make laws that are Retroactive? Laws that continue punishing the person (and their family) forever. Prohibit us from living somewhere or prohibit us from free travel. Is the Constitution obsolete now??? I know everyone says these are not laws but civil regulations but in my mind regulations are the same thing as a law. They tell you what you can or can’t do and if you DO NOT follow them, you go back to prison!!! So, what is the difference between laws and regulations?
I have also noticed that the same laws that punish my parent do not always punish others who have committed the same crime. Is that because they are public figures( Professional Athletes, Government Officials, sons of Well Known Advocates, or people who have tons of money) and society is ok with them committing the crimes????? (I watch the news, read newspapers and research stuff on the internet) This affects my life everyday so I must pay attention.
I am hoping someday before it is too late that I too can have a normal life. Not always be a VICTIM of societies unfounded FEAR of all people labeled a Sex Offender. They are not all MONSTERS!!!!!
Maybe if people looked into their own lives they would realize they too could be considered a Sex Offender for things they have done. Maybe even if these laws were in affect a long time ago you or someone in your family could be one!!!
I cannot give you my real name as I fear it would put us in more danger, so I will give you a name for the life I wish I had.
Thank you for listening,
Living Free
As a mother, I don't believe the post before was written by a child. Possibly the spouse, or perpatrator, but not a child. That being said, I am glad we have this sex offender registry. For instance, my daughter had a friend over one night, and my husband noticed a guy peeping in our window. We called the police, and they were here in an instant, and another on patrol picked up the peeper. Guess what?!?! He was a registered sex offender! And looking into our windows at 6 yr old girls playing dress up. I think that when you're sick enough to abuse kids in any way, there is no hope for you. Once a cheat always a cheat they say, but sex offenders are more often repeat offenders than any other criminal. They are sick individuals!
ReplyDeleteActually Sex Offenders are the LOWEST repeat offenders!!!!!! and that is according to the DOJ ( Department of Justice) Also that letter comes from 16 y/o who has lived that life.
ReplyDeleteMost people probably don't know that there are state and national organizations that have been created, similar to AA, to help the families of Sex Offenders as well as the offenders themselves, cope with everyday life. The MD group, which has about 300 members from every county, is called FAIR for Families Advocating Intelligent Registries. These people meet in regional meetings once a month, including in Salisbury, and at a statewide meeting once a month in various locations.
ReplyDeleteAt the national convention last summer, we met many college professors and high school teachers, whose only crime was flunking a young lady. She then told her teacher to change her grade or he would live to regret it.
We met a man whose crime was urinating in a dark alley at 2:30 AM when there were no public restrooms open, and being caught by a cop's flashlight.
We met a young man who puilled a typical college prank and mooned a group of friends from a van he was riding in.
All of these people are on the list for life just as if they were repeat baby rapists.
Politicians keep introducing bills to make life tougher on those that have paid there dues to society, in hopes it will get them more votes. They don't care that it's not right to lump everyone together.
You can have a convicted murderer living next door to you that was freed after 15 years...and you would not know it.
You can have a convicted drug dealer that deals to kids living next to you and across from a primary school and never know it. These people don't need to register.
You want a list that needs to be published...how about all of the repeat DUI's & DWI's out there. They are far more dangerous and ALWAYS repeat there offense.