Episode 9
Who represents the victims? NARSOL, SOSEN, WAR and many other organizations are fighting for those of us on the registry. Why are we fighting for the rights of those that have committed crimes?
From The Press Herald: Sparked by reports to Augusta police, a proposal to bar sex offenders from photographing children faces an uphill climb, but it raises issues worth discussing. The effectiveness of public sex offender registries, for instance, is highly questionable, with studies showing little impact on sex crimes or recidivism. https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/26/our-view-legislation-should-start-dialogue-on-stopping-predation/
- Should there be laws against photographing minors that are in public places?
- How would you police this in the first place?
From The Review Journal: Las Vegas man says he killed over dislike of sex offenders, report says A Las Vegas man told his neighbor he killed two homeless people behind a central-valley swap meet because one of them was a sex offender, court documents show. “The neighbor explained he had been sexually assaulted as a child and took offense to sex offenders,” 32-year-old Michael Thompson’s arrest report said. https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/las-vegas-man-says-he-killed-over-dislike-of-sex-offenders-report-says/
- This person was convicted in 1984. Can a person ever live beyond their past? Granted, people make mistakes. Some larger than other mistakes. People are punished for their mistakes. But are you punished by these decisions forever?
- Shouldn’t we have a justice system that allows for vigilante justice?
From The Star Tribute: Minnesota sex offenders challenge residency restrictions. Criminal justice researchers have found that geographic-based residency restrictions are largely ineffective at preventing sex crimes, in part because offenders tend to victimize people they know rather than pursue strangers living in close proximity to them. http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-sex-offenders-challenge-a-city-s-ban/470718623/
- What is the argument for residency restrictions if the majority of crimes are committed by people that know the victim? Stranger danger is largely a myth, a statistical outlier.
From The Tallahassee Democrat: Felons’ rights proposal goes on November ballot The “Voting Restoration Amendment,” which was approved Tuesday to appear on the ballot as Amendment 4, would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded. http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/23/felons-rights-proposal-goes-november-ballot/1058885001/
- Why single out murder and SOs?
From MassLive.com: Westfield officials hesitant to repeal sex offender ordinance despite high court ruling “Why is everyone so concerned with the assailant’s rights?” he asked. “We need to find another outlet so these (level) twos and threes can’t live in certain areas. … When they do something like that, they throw their life away.” http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/resident_speaks_out_against_re.html
- Does a person throw their life away by committing a crime?
From The Atlantic: Where Nassar’s Judge Went Wrong: By endorsing vengeance from the bench, the judge sentencing the disgraced Olympic doctor crossed an important line.
Here is a comment from a listener. He or she wished to remain anonymous, but as best as I can tell this person is from Illinois:
Hello Andy and Larry, I want to thank the both of you for these podcasts. I have listened to each one. Some a few times. I hope you’re getting good listener numbers. It’s ok to get off topic. Haha. I would buy you guys lunch just to hear you two go back and forth. Sorry for no return email. My states internet usage laws are scary
Charles commented about episode 8: I can relate to this problem because I was on probation from Florida serving it in Maryland. I was accused of technical violations. Maryland wanted to send me back to Florida. I had heard of this requirement in the interstate compact and asked my attorney. He had never heard of a Probable Cause hearing and told me to waive extradition. I finally did get my hearing but I had to hire a different attorney who reached out to NARSOL for help. Thankfully we did get the hearing after I pressed the matter.
Listener question. Chris left voice mail at 747-227-4477:
Our topic tonight is about protecting the victims. You have people commit heinous offenses. The victim may have to go through psychological treatment for years, or decades. They might not even be alive. Who is out there protecting them? And why are we doing advocacy work for people who have done wrong?
David Brown
January 31, 2018 2:35 pmIf you keep people out of the above ground economy you will force them back into the underground economy. It isn’t about caring about the rights of those who have committed crimes. It’s about reducing further crime by letting those who have committed crimes back into society after they have done their time. Statistically, former sex offenders have the lowest recidivism rates.
John
January 31, 2018 11:58 pmJust leave the country, sex offenders have no rights, murderers have more rights!
You be surprise how your life is much better and your back to leaving a normal life when you leave this country and the police state you live in.
Tim
February 1, 2018 6:16 pmwhat county did you move too?
Steve
February 7, 2018 8:32 pmJohn- This IS my country. I don’t agree with every Federal or State law…so it’s up to me to vote, write my representatives, and try to move the laws to what I interpret as fair and just.
I have to do it…I can’t leave because people hate me, and because it’s hard- it’s harder for those who love me- and that’s why I have to stay and try to make the changes.
My Country, my State, my family, their future.
SW
February 10, 2018 2:55 pmMost of us can’t vote.
andys
February 10, 2018 8:04 pmEven if you, me, we can’t vote – that doesn’t mean we don’t have a voice and doesn’t mean that we can’t influence our friends and family to our way of thinking.
Tammie Leigh Lawson
February 1, 2018 1:05 amI want to ask Why can’t the Sex Offender Registry have reclassification for offenders with a certain criteria of offenses? There are thousands of people on a Violent Sex Offender Registry where no violence ever took place even some where no child was involved with the offender at all. How can a person be classified as a Violent Offender when there was no violent act and no child was touched by the offender? How did this happen? What kinda system puts this hardship on a person let alone his or her family. Lifetime restrictions!!! Somewhere the system is broken and failed! Reform is needed!!!!
Timothy DA Lawver
February 1, 2018 8:31 pmI listen but you two men miss the point!
This whole deal is not about the sex offender or public safety.
IT IS ABOUT THE DATABASE!
In particular, it came about when the powers that be realized the power AND USES of the machine to effect POLITICAL SECURITY.
Consider, the deep state’s uses of databases. (See EFF.Org)
While foreign surveillance is completely permissible, domestic electronic surveillance WAS a no-no.
The Wetterling Act changed that.
Think about it gentlemen, If a state may indenture an individual to a machine {SOR DATABASE} then the government may indeed monitor the people with it too!
With respect to individual liberty the most severe punishment is incarceration, registration as it currently exists, is a close second, because telling a man he may go where he wants but he may not proves the same result.
Timothy DA Lawver
February 1, 2018 9:07 pmJust to correct myself. I noted above, the Whetterling act changed all that.
More correctly it was the SCOTUS ruling of the Whetterling Act that solidified the constitutional use of indenturement, ex-post by states. Keep in mind since then all Americans are having their biometric data collected and stored by both government, private individuals and corporations.