Hello:

Well, it SHOULDN'T.

I'm going to start with a rant (because I can). Just a day or so after they caught this guy Garrido, there was a cop being interviewed on TV. He kept crediting law enforcement for the discovery of this crime... My jaw hit the floor..

In fact, it was the INEPTNESS of law enforcement that kept the crime going for 18 years. The perp, Garrido WAS on the sex offender registry. He WAS wearing an ankle bracelet. He WAS on parole. He WAS snitched on in 2007 by a neighbor who TOLD the cops that children were living in his backyard.. The complaint WAS investigated by the cops who showed up at the door of a registered sex offender, on parole, wearing an ankle bracelet and DIDN'T look in his backyard??

Hmmm.. I guess the whole damn thing was a rant, wasn't it?

excon

You'll get no argument here. No, the sex offender registry provides no security or comfort. I have two small boys, and I'm actually suspicious of anyone I don't know.

It's the number of cases in the news that scare the hell out of me.

As far as the case you're speaking of , I can't believe the cops are taking any kind of credit.

The guy walking into their office.

I agree with you on this one, excon.

(Quick, someone check hell for ice-skates.)

Registries don't provide any form of protection at all.

And these cops WERE inept, no question there.

However, after all the time you have spent posting in favor of criminals' rights, I'm surprised that you don't recognize the reason that these cops were so inept.

They were worried about being sued by the ACLU on Garrido's behalf if they decided to search his house without a warrant.

The pro-criminal, anti-cop bias out there is so strong that cops would prefer to err on the side of protecting the criminal's "rights" even when they don't have any. These cops were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. If they had checked out the back yard, they could have been sued by Garrido's ACLU attorney for invasion of privacy. If they didn't they risked missing something important, which they did. It is an impossible environment for a cop to operate in.

And you are a part of the reason they feel that way. A small part, but a part, nonetheless.

Perhaps a bit less time spent trying to protect criminals and a bit more time spent supporting cops would help change that environment, and would make cops feel safe enough to check out the home of a criminal without being sued.

So I agree with your post, but I invite you to do some introspection as well on this subject.

Elliot

Ex, as a "closet liberal" I actually do have issues with sex offender registries.

When do we say someone has paid their penalty and needs to be left alone?

How many registered sex offenders really belong on the list?

How many have been attacked or otherwise harassed for no other reason than they were on the list?

How do the families of sex offenders cope with their address being on the list or becoming a target because they took a family member in after being released?

Maybe we really should rethink this...

The police dept isn't taking any credit .

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"This is not an acceptable outcome, organisationally we should have been more inquisitive, curious and turned over a rock or two," Mr Rupf admitted.
"I offer my apologies to the victims and have accepted responsibility for missing the earlier opportunity to rescue Jaycee."

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US Kidnap: Police Admit Blowing Chance To Rescue Jaycee Lee Dugard Three Years Ago After 911 Call | World News | Sky News

Tools like the registry are useless if not used properly . That is the lesson of this case.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

ex, as a "closet liberal" I actually do have issues with sex offender registries.

When do we say someone has paid their penalty and needs to be left alone?

How many registered sex offenders really belong on the list?

How many have been attacked or otherwise harassed for no other reason than they were on the list?

How do the families of sex offenders cope with their address being on the list or becoming a target because they took a family member in after being released?

Maybe we really should rethink this...

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I do believe that not everyone that is considered a "sex offender" should be on the list.

The 18 year old that had consensual sex with his 16 year old girlfriend, in my opinion, doesn't belong on the list.

The man we're talking about was a level three sex offender, he belongs on the list for the rest of his natural life. If family members decide to take him in, that's their problem. I have a right to know who's living in my neighborhood around my children.

Having said that, obviously the sex offender list doesn't do squat. This guy kidnapped a girl and kept her in his backyard for 18 years! He was on the list.

The Canadian sex offender registry doesn't make me feel safer at all because it is so flawed and inneficient. Here is a great article about it from Maclean's magazine, the Canadian answer to Time or Newsweek. I sure hope the American registry is better run.

'A national embarrassment' | Macleans.ca - Canada - Features

No! Not at all!
When my son was 13,he brought home a flyer from school with the name ,address and picture of sex offenders in the area.
Lo and Behold... one was my downstairs neighbor!
Who my son and I had spoken to many times.
He even fixed my sons bike chain one day!
When I informed my landlord,he said there was nothing he or I could do,the man had a right to live somewhere.

Mississippi allows people to put the names and faces of sex offenders on billboards along the highways so that the public knows who they are.

I don't know that it has prevented a single sex crime, or whether it has caused any attacks by angry citizens against the sex offenders.

The system is flawed. It needs to be fixed. And a sex-registry isn't the fix we need.

Elliot

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Originally Posted by ETWolverine

Mississippi allows people to put the names and faces of sex offenders on billboards along the highways so that the public knows who they are.

I don't know that it has prevented a single sex crime, or whether it has caused any attacks by angry citizens against the sex offenders.

The system is flawed. It needs to be fixed. And a sex-registry isn't the fix we need.

Elliot

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Then what is?

The only fix I can think of is stiffer jail time. If we don't allow these people back on the streets then we don't have to worry about where they're living.

Rehabilitation of sex offenders is a joke, but still, we allow them back on the streets.

There was a registered sex offender living in our neighborhood a few years back. He was convicted of raping a child.

He moved in with him mom, she lives right behind the school. He could sit on her deck and watch his prey. He wasn't supposed to be anywhere near children, but the police did nothing because that would be a violation of his rights. :(

Of course a year later he was convicted of molesting a 10 year old girl. I'm sure he'll be back out on the streets very soon. Maybe he can get a job at a daycare, because that's how the system works.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

The man we're talking about was a level three sex offender, he belongs on the list for the rest of his natural life.

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I don't know what level three constitutes but perhaps they should be in prison for the rest of their life.

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If family members decide to take him in, that's their problem. I have a right to know who's living in my neighborhood around my children.

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Let's not say him though, what about that 18 year old high school senior that had sex with his 16 year old girlfriend? Family takes him in when released and suddenly they have to potentially risk their reputation, their safety and who knows what else?

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Having said that, obviously the sex offender list doesn't do squat. This guy kidnapped a girl and kept her in his backyard for 18 years! He was on the list.

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No the list doesn't apparently do much good, so what now?

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Let's not say him though, what about that 18 year old high school senior that had sex with his 16 year old girlfriend? Family takes him in when released and suddenly they have to potentially risk their reputation, their safety and who knows what else?

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I already addressed that. I don't think that an 18 year old that has consensual sex with his 16 year old girlfriend belongs on the sex offenders list.

A list doesn't do much good if these perpetrators aren't monitored.

Level 3 sex offenders, like Garrido, should be checked on, should be monitored. If he had been then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Hello again,

If stiffer sentences is the answer, then let's do that. But, to let these guys out and then splash their names all over the neighborhood makes no sense either... It's clear that they're sentences continue, and the public is no safer...

Besides, alty, why should you only be informed about sex offenders? Wouldn't you like to know where burglars live? How about drug dealers?? Why only sex offenders??

No, I agree with our resident closet liberal. When a guy serves his time, leave him alone. Plus, the cops can spend more time busting your neighbor for smoking pot if he doesn't have to follow sex offenders around. I mean they can spend more time eating doughnuts... I mean they can spend more time fighting crime... Yeah, that's it.

excon

PS> To our resident winger, I'd ask him if the cops bend over backwards to the extent that he suggests, how did we become the worlds largest jailer?

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Originally Posted by ETWolverine

They were worried about being sued by the ACLU on Garrido's behalf if they decided to search his house without a warrant.

The pro-criminal, anti-cop bias out there is so strong that cops would prefer to err on the side of protecting the criminal's "rights" even when they don't have any. These cops were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. If they had checked out the back yard, they could have been sued by Garrido's ACLU attorney for invasion of privacy. If they didn't they risked missing something important, which they did. It is an impossible environment for a cop to operate in.


Elliot

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I may be wrong or right in saying this. But what kind of man or woman can worry over a law suit, knowing there are possible children in a dangerous situation? If it were me that would be the least of my concerns. Then if I did get sued whoop-dee-doo. I would hope with the situation I would have enough support that the out come wouldn't be so bad. That fired me up. I didn't hear they were worried over being sued. UGH! They are lucky it wasn't my child.

I think the registry is pointless. About 10 houses away from me, across from a public skating park there is a house boarding six level three offenders. There have been town meetings on this over and over to get them out and nothing has been done. In fact the biggest town meeting ever listed for my town was over this topic. I have no sympathy for these people. I feel nothing but hatred and wish the worse for them. They never recover. They get out and do it again and again. The sad thing is most of the time its people the children know. That's what's so scary.

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Besides, alty, why should you only be informed about sex offenders? Wouldn't you like to know where burglars live? How about drug dealers?? Why only sex offenders??

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Opening a wound here.

I was molested as a child, I was raped as a teen, so I may be biased.

My daughter is 7, two years older then I was when I started being molested. I look at her now and worry.

A burglar can take away my possessions, a drug dealer can invade the schools , but a sex offender can change my life and the lives of my children forever.

It's my fear that makes me want to know. If there is someone living in my neighborhood that is known to prey on children or women, or anyone, I want to know.

I have a shovel and a big yard, I doubt anyone will miss him. ;)

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Originally Posted by 88sunflower

I may be wrong or right in saying this. But what kind of man or woman can worry over a law suit, knowing there are possible children in a dangerous situation?

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Hello sun:

There are only three people in the world who believe the cops tiptoe around, say yessir and nosir and don't follow the law because some liberal forced them not to...

One of them is right here.

excon

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Opening a wound here.

I was molested as a child, I was raped as a teen, so I may be biased.

My daughter is 7, two years older then I was when I started being molested. I look at her now and worry.

A burglar can take away my possessions, a drug dealer can invade the schools , but a sex offender can change my life and the lives of my children forever.

It's my fear that makes me want to know. If there is someone living in my neighborhood that is known to prey on children or women, or anyone, I want to know.

I have a shovel and a big yard, I doubt anyone will miss him. ;)

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Alty I have one thing to say to this... GREENIE GREENIE GREENIE I will dig the hole and grab us a cold beer to celebrate.

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Originally Posted by 88sunflower

Alty I have one thing to say to this...GREENIE GREENIE GREENIE I will dig the hole and grab us a cold beer to celebrate.

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Cheers! :)

Steve, this may explain the different "levels" of sex offender.

From the NY State Dvision of Criminal Justice:

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Risk Level & Designation Determination

Upon release to the community following a conviction for a registerable offense, a sex offender is required to register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. In order to determine the level of community notification and duration of registration, a hearing is held by the sentencing court. After examining the facts in a particular case, including, but not limited to, the use of force, weapons, alcohol or drugs, victim's age, number of victims, assault or injury of the victim and relationship to the victim, the court makes a determination regarding the offender's level of notification, commonly called the risk level. The risk level is based on the court's assessment regarding whether a particular offender is likely to repeat the same or similar registerable offense and the danger the offender poses to the community. Because the risk level reflects factors unique to a particular sex offender, offenders convicted of the same offense may receive different risk levels.

The court may assign one of the following three risk levels:

Level 1 (low risk of repeat offense), or
Level 2 (moderate risk of repeat offense), or
Level 3 (high risk of repeat offense and a threat to public safety exists).

The risk level governs the amount and type of information which can be released as community notification and also impacts duration of registration. (Note: In the interim period between registration and the risk level hearing, the offender's risk level may be referred to as "pending" and only confirmation that an offender is registered can be provided via the 800# Information line.

Designation

In addition to the risk level, the court also determines whether a sex offender should be designated a sexual predator, a sexually violent offender or a predicate sex offender. This designation, along with the risk level, governs the duration of the registration. Level 1 sex offenders must register for 20 years unless they have been given one of the above designations. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are required to be registered for life. If the sex offender has been designated a sexual predator, a sexually violent offender or a predicate sex offender, he or she must register for life regardless of risk level. Below is a chart which you may find helpful.

RISK LEVEL DESIGNATION RECEIVED? (SEXUAL PREDATOR, SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENDER OR PREDICATE SEX OFFENDER)DURATION OF REGISTRATION

1 NO DESIGNATION 20 YEARS
2 NO DESIGNATION LIFE
3 NO DESIGNATION LIFE
1 YES, DESIGNATION RECEIVED LIFE
2 YES, DESIGNATION RECEIVED LIFE
3 YES, DESIGNATION RECEIVED LIFE

Petition for Relief from Registration

A level 2 sex offender who has not received a designation of sexual predator, sexually violent offender or predicate sex offender, who has been registered for a minimum period of thirty years, may be relieved of any further duty to register upon the granting of a petition for relief by the sentencing court or the court which made the determination regarding duration of registration and level of notification. Correction Law §168-o(1) sets forth the procedures to follow when a level 2 sex offender who has been registered for a minimum of 30 years wishes to file a petition for relief from registration.

Petition to Modify Risk Level

Any registered sex offender or district attorney may petition the sentencing court or the court which made the determination regarding the level of notification for an order modifying the level of notification (risk level). Correction Law §168-o sets forth the procedures to follow when a registered sex offender or the district attorney wishes to file a petition to modify an offender's risk level.

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Originally Posted by 88sunflower

I may be wrong or right in saying this. But what kind of man or woman can worry over a law suit, knowing there are possible children in a dangerous situation? If it were me that would be the least of my concerns. Then if I did get sued whoop-dee-doo. I would hope with the situation I would have enough support that the out come wouldnt be so bad. That fired me up. I didnt hear they were worried over being sued. UGH!! They are lucky it wasnt my child.

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You're not a cop. Cops have to live day-in and day-out with the possibility of being sued for doing their jobs. The slightest violation or PERCEPTION of a violation of privacy or individual rights can lead to a lawsuit that can end a cop's career. So yes, they spend most of their time walking on eggshells. That's the environment WE have created for them. It's OUR fault that cops have to worry that the citizens they protect are going to sue them... because they have seen that that is what we do to them. I'd like to see that environment change.

Elliot