Smashed Frog

The Books Take Child Safety Zones on the Road

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:12 GMT

Papa (and daughter) have a brand new bag.

Ron Book and daughter Laura Book-Lim boogied on up from the bright lights of Miami-Dade to dish up a bit of baseless factoids at the invite of the elected officials of rural Polk County, Florida.

(...)
Book-Lim along with her father, lobbyist Ron Book, were invited by Commissioner Randy Wilkinson and spoke about the Polk County Sex Offender Ordinance. Book-Lim asked commissioners to consider adding "child safety zones" and loitering measures to the current ordinance, a measure that was recently added to the same ordinance in Miami-Dade.
Book-Lim said she also would like to see all sexual predators and offenders banned from all county parks. (Newschief.com, 2/4/2010).

Responsible for the frenzy of residency restrictions for those persons deemed sex offenders--restrictions that superceded state law of 1000 feet--it now appears the Books are lobbying for the next phase of state-wide municipality overreach: redefining loitering to actually mean exclusion.

The Florida state legislature is currently considering legislative proposals (S 1284 and H119) which would bring municipalities into compliance with restriction of residence within the individual communities and legally define loitering and prowling specific to child safety zones i.e., areas where children are known to gather.

As I pondered over at Miami-Blinks (1/22/10), such a legal definition would seemingly clarify that "those registered (could) now be permitted to utilize state parks, public boat launches and all and any community area as would any other Floridian."

As would any other taxpayer.

The Books have obviously picked up on that as well.

Ron Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust proved a powerful lobbyist for passage of residency restriction law at the state and municipality levels which resulted in an encampment of sex offenders living under Miami's Julia Tuttle Causeway. The span quite effectively underscored the homelessness consequence of restriction law and soon became recognized as a worldwide symbol of NIMBY exclusion.

(...)
"It's common sense not to allow people who have showed the propensity to commit a sexual act against a child anywhere around children and we just can't have that," Book said. "We urge that you ban predators from all parks and protect the citizens and their children."

Mr. Book failed to mention his common sense conclusion rejects DOJ statistics that in the majority of cases, most victims knew the offender. The Books have lived the known offender nightmare through an unfortunate real life experience and yet, continue to lobby without citation of the following real-word stats:

In 90% of the rapes of children less than 12 years old, the child knew the offender, according to police-recorded incident data.

Among victims 18 to 29 years old, two-thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist.

Of concern to this blogger.

S 1284 cites (in regards to residence restrictions) that "...A county of municipality may, upon the recommendation of its chief law enforcement officer and upon a finding of public necessity, adopt an ordinance that increases the distance exclusion for the residence of a person subject to s. 794.065, s. 947.1405, or s. 948.30 up to a maximum distance of 1,750 feet."

Anticipating every sheriff in the state will declare such a recommendation to protect children, a grandfather clause ensuring the continued residence of those persons currently living and maintaining home within the maximum distance of 1,750 feet is recommended for S 1284 and H 1119 inclusion. As witnessed over the past several years, ex post facto law seemingly does not apply to those listed on the SO registry.

Law enforcement discretion with child safety zones is not distinguished in the legislative proposals and my thoughts are the Books have already eyeballed such in anticipation law enforcement would be granted such authority regarding child safety zones as stated above--if left unclarified--upon passage of the proposed law. Otherwise, explain the statement by Polk County Sheriff's Office Lt. Lloyd Stewart that he "...was happy with the ordinance, but would entertain changes to strengthen the ordinance, not dilute it."

County Attorney Michael Craig adds credence to my premise with his recommendation to the Polk County Commissioners:

"...if the board wants to create child safety zones, it should be written as a separate ordinance."

This Frog would suggest Mr. Craig is fully aware the passage of the proposed state law will immediately preempt a ban as suggested by the Books if linked to the current county sex offender ordinance.

S 1284 and H119 may define child safety zones (along with loitering and prowling) by proposed changes to the current state law but as written, does not prevent Florida cities and municipalities from further definition of the law specific to their home areas.

NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) becomes NIMCSZ (Not in My Child Safety Zone).

It is the responsibility of the state legislature to ensure such potential exclusion is addressed as unlawful action by Florida municipalities as S 1284 and H119 head to committee.

As taxpayers, we and and designated family members support parks and recreational areas through tax dollars. We are currently excluded from enjoying these areas together as families through state and municipal ordinance. State legislators should be mindful those deemed sex offenders and their families are carefully monitoring the proposed changes in state law and encourage elected lawmakers to tighten the proposals specific to child safety zones to ensure municipality compliance and legally prevent such from further defining the law (if passed) to further exclude us from the use of what we continue to pay for, yet cannot access.

Otherwise, I foresee a class action suit on these very grounds.

Both Ron and Laura Book-Lim should be publicly admonished for their continuance to lobby for bad law based on dated research and no statistics. I would further suggest--if such actions continue--the resignation of Mr. Book as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust--be issued.

In light of the Julia Tuttle fiasco, how he remains in this leadership position is beyond this blogger.

It is absolutely time to undo the cruelty, the collateral damage and unintentional consequences of Florida's sex offender laws.

Crowley Unstung

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:58 GMT

I've come to believe one is guilty until proven innocent in this country and the story of Joseph Crowley proves it.

Crowley--who pitched his hat into the ring in the race to unseat Florida Republican state rep John Tobia--has reportedly withdrawn from the race since this story broke.

It's a tangled web.

Apparently, the mother of Crowley's alleged victim felt the sting of the feds after a six month investigation which resulted in her arrest (and a guilty plea) for the distribution and production of child pornography.

Turning "cooperating witness", she made "...a controlled phone call from Washington to Crowley. He allegedly instructed her to get into bed with her 8-year-old son, remove his shirt and place her hand on his leg. When he asked if she would perform a sex act, investigators terminated the phone call." (FT, 2/4/10).

Same old story. Crowley is arrested and thrown into jail St. Lucie County way (the base camp for sting crime fighters) to wait out whether he gets a free trip to D.C. to be tried federally. The phone call getting him out of jail free is not from the governor but from a federal judge, dismissing all charges.

Prosecutors aren't talking beyond stating the charges could be refiled. Of course, Crowley's name is ruined, but no big whoop. Just another day in the world of the quick sweep.

Two words of advice, Mr. Crowley.

Costa. Rica.

Not True

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:15 GMT

I enjoyed the President's swipe at SCOTUS earlier this week.

That being said, the Supremes have yet to rule on the practice of civil commitment for federal prisoners.

With the spotlight glare upon The Wise Ones, may they twist ever so uncomfortably in their robes over that issue based on the ruling by the California Supremes indicating such practice may "...violate constitutional guarantees of equal protection."

Yet per usual, the Cali Supremes placed a hedge bet.

(...)

The ruling, written by Justice Carlos R. Moreno, did not strike down the measure.

Instead, the court said a fact-finding hearing must be held to determine whether valid reasons exist for treating sex predators differently from others subject to civil confinement, such as mentally disordered offenders.

Justice Ming Chin, joined by Justice Marvin Baxter, dissented.

"Whether sexually violent predators present a distinct danger warranting unique remedies is for society to determine, not a trial judge," Chin wrote.

KTLA News, (1.28.2010)

As previously mentioned by one of SF's froggiest, California is also questioning the constitutionality of Jessica's Law.

(...)

The number of convicted sex offenders living on the streets is soaring across the state, according to new figures released to the ABC7 I-Team. It is an unintended consequence of Jessica's Law (Prop 83), passed overwhelmingly by voters a few years ago.

The California Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling next week whether Jessica's Law is so broad and intrusive, that it violates the constitutional rights of convicted sex offenders. But, even more important, the measure meant to protect children could actually be putting us all at risk.

(...)

Under Jessica's Law, a paroled sex offender can't take up residence within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Checking the map at the parole office in San Francisco, that leaves very few places for sex offenders to live.

The I-Team spoke with San Francisco parole supervisor Armel Farnsworth.

Noyes: The high rent district, the parking lot of the ball park?

Farnsworth: Yes.

Noyes: The toxic waste dump at Hunter's Point?

Farnsworth: Yes.

Noyes: Or out on the golf course?

Farnsworth: The golf course at the Olympic Country Club, yes.

(...)

The author of Jessica's Law, State Sen. George Runner, says he is open to communities loosening the restriction against sex offenders living within 2,000 feet of a park or school.

"If the city of San Francisco felt like 500 feet was a better number, we certainly don't have any issue with that," said Runner. "Our issue has been pretty simple, we just don't think that a person who has molested a child should live across the street from a school."

The California Supreme Court could do away with the residency restriction altogether. The key issues: the law also applies to parolees who have not committed crimes against children, and it sometimes applies to those who committed sex crimes long ago.

Read more over at ABC News, San Francisco. (1.28.2010)

The Nancy Grace Remix

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:41 GMT

Well. It's one of those live life long enough moments.

Litigation entertainer Nancy Grace has been summoned to sit for deposition in the Melinda Duckett case. With cameras rolling.

Duckett--just 21 years old at her passing--committed suicide after the airing of an interview with Grace in the disappearance of her 2 year old son, Trenton.. (Nancy Grace Goes to Court, 11/21/2006).

Her legal team spent most of Tuesday attempting to keep cameras out of the courtroom, but per TMZ, a judge has ruled for videotape of the deposition. Third party access will be made available only through the courts.

(...)

The judge said since the parents' lawyer agreed not to release the video to third parties without court approval, there was no need to address "the evils" Grace complained of -- that "disclosure of the videotape of Ms. Grace's deposition" was designed to "harass, embarrass and intimidate Ms. Grace and corrupt the jury pool." (TMZ, 1/27/10).

One graceless shadow concern is left unlisted. CBS is shopping yet another syndicated show for the Grace during financial times where local station managers are oft sighted lifting green room sofa cushions in the search for loose change. Grace will take on the role of mediator in Swift Justice , "...resolv(ing) conflicts between participants, the same way other TV judges do, and her arbitration decisions will be binding." (NYT, 1/25/10).

Scary.

Although bad press is often considered ratings gold in our seesaw value of a society, any finding of responsibility in the Duckett suicide could prove the jump shark of all time bad form. The 90 per cent of the market signed up for a bit of Swift J could quite possibly bail once that remix of Nancy G Depoooo raises the roof on You Tube.

Nancy is scheduled to give it up in Atlanta this Thursday.

Stay tuned for the cell phone video.

Miami-Dade Blinks on Residency Restrictions

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:27 GMT

Feeling the heat of worldwide focus on an encampment of citizens living beneath the Julia Tuttle Causeway, Miami-Dade Commissioners have repealed the hodge-podge of sex offender residency laws created and passed by municipalities within the county lines.

Previous NIMBY restrictions literally exiled anyone designated as an offender from living within Miami-Dade, leaving many on the streets, legally restricted from housing or shelter with friends or family living within the designated off-limit zones. As the laws stood unchallenged, cities and counties throughout Florida wildfired the concept of restricting residence within the individual communities.

Thanks to the grassroots efforts of many effected by these laws, the general population became educated on the broad range of offenses considered sexual in nature, many which involve no physical interaction with anyone. Thanks to the Florida legislature who stood by and watched the laws take on a life of their own--quick easy vote-getters--more and more citizens found themselves facing such charges and upon conviction, branded with a label that most immediately associate with child molestation. As an example, teenagers engaged in typical adolescent behaviors (i.e. inappropriate texting as one example)--arrested and convicted of the same--are required to register as sex offenders.

Took a few years, but thanks to the efforts of overzealous law enforcement, soon most everyone knew someone or of someone designated as a RSO and the circumstances surrounding that distinction.

The Julia Tuttle Causeway encampment of sex offenders living under the span quite effectively underscored the homelessness consequence created by such restrictions. The fact Ron Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust had lobbied for passage of such laws at the state and municipality levels provided the exclamation point of what the hell is going on here?!?!

The new ordinance in a conch shell:

--2,500 rule residency restriction from schools
--1,000-foot buffer zone for all other places where children gather (Florida state law)
--300 feet no-loitering zones where children congregate

My first impression. Define loitering. I'd like to know if as taxpayers, those registered will now be permitted to utilize state parks, public boat launches and all and any community area as would any other Floridian.

Many questions remain. The prediction is as goes Miami, so will the rest of Florida.

***

Miami Herald, 1/21/2010:

(...)
(Miami-Dade) County Commissioners on Thursday passed, 12-0, a sex offender ordinance that repeals more than 24 different sex offender laws enacted by municipalities within county borders. The new law creates one standard that it hopes will balance the need to protect children while still giving housing options to sexual offenders.
The ordinance also creates a new provision that supporters say is a more workable and realistic solution to protecting children: child-safety zones.

Almost all the municipal ordinances tend ``to create zones in which sexual offenders are completely excluded from available housing,'' the ordinance reads.
Under the child-safety zones, sex offenders are prohibited from loitering within 300 feet of where children congregate. In other words, it restricts sex offenders from being near children, but doesn't leave them homeless.
Read more here.

Never Keep the Security Deposit

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:03 GMT

I've only told one person all the dirty details about what my search to purchase a home involved.

Limited by residency restrictions, rather than discourage those out there in the same boat, let's leave it at this.

It was tough. But we prevailed.

The not so funny part was what prompted house hunting. After several years of renting, the present buyer's market popped up and failing to come up with any good reasons not to buy, I pulled up the multiple listings in my area.

What's for sale around my neighborhood? I search on my street address and clicked enter.

Well, look at that. My house is up for sale.

And my landlord hadn't bothered to tell me so.

If that doesn't prompt one to buy, nothing will. After jumping the legal hurdles and all the headaches partnered with pursuing a home loan, we closed and immediately picked up the phone and gave notice to the landlord.

He was about as happy as I was upon finding the rental up for sale, but hey, oh well, so much for tenant-landlord trust. To show just how pissed off he really was about us tossing him the keys first, he kept every penny of our security deposit. I was mad as the hornet who stung my face in three places at age 6, but after consulting with an attorney, I let it go.

At least we were out and safe in our new home, in a nice neighborhood with understanding neighbors. And I got a lot of satisfaction that the FOR RENT sign stood out in the front yard of the rental for four long months.

Fast forward to this past Friday.

We are out the other night and there's Mr. Landlord throwing back a shot of celestial bad karma. He looks our way, giving me the perfect opportunity to shun him with a icy look in the opposite direction.

Before too long, a waitress comes up and hands me a note. For you, she says. It's been some time since I've been passed a note in a bar, so I figure, it's Mr. L., the guy who came on as our big friend for years and only if the house had sold, may have mentioned such while booting us out with thirty days notice.

I unfolded the note.

Scribbled in the way only the drunk can, the message read:

We had a problem renting the house. Finally after months of looking & people loving it, they & there (sic) realtor would unexplainable (sic) disappear. Finally the realtor called me & informed my (sic) that there was a registered sex offender at that address and her clients were spooked. If this is your family member pls list your new address so that we don't have to deal with this problem again. Thax

As. If.

Before I had a chance to scribble back a quick in my circles, this is what we call an unintended consequence or a witty go cry to your state legislator, or what, Family Watchdog gets it wrong yet again, Mr. Wonderful had turned tail and left.

He couldn't blame the glut of rental properties because folks are losing their jobs and bunking up in packs. No consideration of the buyer's market (it's cheaper to make a house payment than rent) or the fact, he wanted to live in the back of the house and rent out the front, so he didn't have to live with his wife any longer.

Nope.

Blame it on the sex offender.

The house remains for sale. But does the new tenant know... hmmmm?

***

Apartment vacancies hit a 30-year high in the fourth quarter, and rents fell as landlords scrambled to retain existing tenants and attract new ones.

The vacancy rate ended the year at 8%, the highest level since Reis Inc., a New York research firm that tracks vacancies and rents in the top 79 U.S. markets, began its tally in 1980.

(...)

Such oversupplied markets as Florida, Phoenix and Las Vegas are hurting, even though housing sales have picked up. "Landlords aren't benefiting because jobs aren't recovering," said Hessam Nadji, managing director at Marcus & Millichap, a real-estate firm

Wall Street Journal (1/7/2010)

Supreme Court Considers Federal Civil Commitment

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:21 GMT

U.S. v. Comstock (08-1224).

Does Congress had the constitutional power to authorize the practice of civil commitment for federal prisoners?

What on earth would the arguments for/against civil commitment of violent sex offenders held past served prison time have anything to do with everyday Americans?

As stated by Eric Janus, author of "Failure to Protect" and dean at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota:

(...)
"The main danger of civil commitment of sex offenders is that it provides a precedent for doing an end run around those governmental protections, and we all may be comfortable right now because we say, 'Well, this is those people. It's not us. It's not our rights that are at stake,' " he said.

"I think we all ought to be cognizant of the fact that these laws set a precedent that greatly expands the power of government to take away our liberty, not for something we've done in the past, not after we've been convicted and punished, but out of fear that we might commit a crime in the future, and this is a very very powerful and dangerous idea," Janus said.
(...)
The justices will decide whether the program enacted under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 is constitutional by infringing on a traditional state function.

Read more over at CNN Justice (1/12/2010):

Meanwhile, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled to prohibit "..,the prosecution of sex offenders noncompliant with two restrictive laws may force area lawyers and law enforcement officials to review the sex offender registry more often." (Southeast Missourian, 1/14/2010).

The Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling applies only to sex offenders convicted prior to the enactment of a 2004 law forbidding a registered sex offender to live within 1,000 feet of a school or day care, and a 2008 law that imposes a ban on Halloween activities.
(...)
The Missouri state constitution doesn't permit retrospective law. (Note to self. Apparently the constitution isn't enough to deter lawmakers from passing the law in the first place........)
(...)
"Every time one of these comes up, we're all going to have to hit the books," Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said. "You don't want a criminal law to be so complicated that a prosecutor has to do that every time a charge is filed."
(...)
Julie Meiners, Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecuting attorney, shared the same sentiment, because a change in the law would mean new obligations would apply to past actions, making requirements the same for all sex offenders.
"This is going to cause a lot of confusion; our office is going to have to spend a lot of time looking things up, but obviously that's our job to know the law and all the updates," she said.

Welcome to our world, Julie.

***

UPDATE!

Missouri Sex Offenders Convicted AFTER 8-28-2008

The ACLU of Eastern Missouri would like to talk to you about the possibility of participating in a lawsuit to contest the Missouri Halloween restrictions.

Key: Must have been convicted AFTER 8-28-2008.

Contact Anthony Rothert at tony@aclu-em.org

***
Sex Offender News, Issues, Research and Recidivism (1/15/2010)

Walking the Walk

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:00 GMT

I've always thought the sex offender issue hit the tipping point a few years back, but a recent video proves the continued crossover into popular culture. The fact Miami-Dade County is the featured LE agency in the short just makes the feature that more topical as local offenders forced to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway brave yet another evening of freezing temperatures with no access to shelter.

IMHO, the Gairdner video targets how easy one can be designated an offender, what's considered a recidivism offense, the invasive reach of public notification laws, ankle bracelet wear, residency restrictions and the resulting consequence of housing often leading to homelessness issue while depicting quite well, the demoralization of the person behind the label upon conviction of an offense Florida deems sexually criminal.

For those that may find the video discriminatory, I'd say nothing is more prejudicial or hypocritical than Mark Foley walking the streets a free man.

Sid Caesar once said, "Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end."

Here's the curlicue.

The S.O. Shuffle. Busting a rhyme with the truth.

Ron Book Blankets Cold Truth about the Julia Tuttle

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:54 GMT

As the frigid temperatures continue to hang out in Florida like a college kid on early Spring Break, lobbyist and Man Most Responsible for keeping ex-offenders out in the cold has been forced to deal with the real life consequences of unreal laws he helped push through the Florida legislature and his his own home town.

***

Miami Herald: (1/7/10) For Julia Tuttle sex offenders , no escape from the cold

(...)

Ron Book, head of Miami-Dade's Homeless Trust, concedes that as sex offenders and predators, they aren't able to stay in the shelters.

``They could probably search out some hotel, but they need resources for that,'' Book said Thursday.

The county has had workers out there handing out blankets, he said, but there's little else he can do that he hasn't already tried.

Finding landlords who will accept them is increasingly difficult, and some -- though not all -- of the offenders refuse to leave.

Depending on whom you ask, from 34 to 70 sex predators and offenders still live under or near the bridge. Book has placed 40-45 of them so far, and he says his agency will continue its effort.

``I feel bad, but they should talk to their probation officers -- they are the ones who put them there,'' Book said.

Later this month, the Miami-Dade County Commission will consider an ordinance that may ease the boundary that prohibits sex offenders and predators from living 2,500 feet from where children congregate.

The new ordinance will instead create child safety zones, whereby convicted molesters would be banned from loitering 300 feet from schools and child-care centers. It would also negate the hodgepodge of local laws that vary from city to city in the county.

Wilson, a resident who wouldn't give his last name, lives in a tent on the south side of the bridge.

``The wind whips through here. We thought they would move us out but they said no,'' he said.

Volunteers from Pure Mercy, a faith-based charitable group from Pinellas, visited at Christmas, handing out grills, a new generator, gasoline, food and clothing.

Executive Director David Lind said it was the third time they visited, and residents now think of him and his wife as if they were their mother and father.

``I don't think anybody deserves to be punished for their entire life,'' Lind said. ``These guys did what they did, there are very few who don't admit what they did. In essence, it seems like they are being punished by society by being stuck in a corner.''

Forecasters say it's highly unlikely the weather will be life threatening for those living under bridges or on the street.

Book, who was in a Super Bowl Host Committee meeting Thursday morning, said that in the past, during hurricane evacuations, the offenders have been offered beds in jails, but they've declined to stay there.

Wilson, a sex offender who served 18 years in prison, said they were told that emergency shelter is offered to them only during a hurricane.

***

Miami Herald: (1/10/10) Cold Temperatures Expected for Several More Days

(...)

Ron Book, head of Miami-Dade's Homeless Trust, said he and his staff brought cold weather sleeping bags, jackets and blankets late Friday to the sex offenders and predators who live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

The group has existed under the causeway for years, due to restrictions on where they can live, which make finding a home difficult.

The laws also keep them out of the shelters.

***

Miami Herald: (12/30/09) South Florida had its share of lowlights in '09

(...)

Economics alone would have slathered 2009 in gloom.
But South Florida's latest turn around the sun offered plenty more ignominy than record bank foreclosures, plummeting real estate values, soaring unemployment and desperate hoteliers.
The year brought South Florida national recognition for two nefarious pursuits. The feds caught up to a Miami Herald finding that Miami-Dade County leads the nation in Medicare fraud. Another Herald investigation revealed that Broward County, with 115 pain pill clinics, has become a prime source for the nation's oxy dealers and their addict clientele.

Adding to our infamy in 2009, we entertained a stream of foreign film crews here to document how, as a matter of public policy, Miami-Dade stashes sex offenders under the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Sex Offender Registries Contribute to Unemployment

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:10 GMT

The immediate access of the sex offender registries by anyone with internet access has kept those required to register out of work. Potential employers are simply unwilling to take a chance.

Meet William from Michigan, convicted of a misdemeanor offense. He paid his debt to society, returned to school and earned a bachelor degree in computer science.

He can't get hired.

(...)

"...the married, 39-year-old Army veteran cannot have his name stricken from the police and public sex offender registries. He must remain listed until 2027.

With many employers unwilling to hire a person on the registry, the lengthy term could relegate him to a life with no job or being underemployed.

Being on the registry also limits where he can live and shuts him out of his son's school activities. Although his crime had nothing to do with children, he's subjected to the same restrictions as a convicted pedophile.

"It's miserable," William said. "I've had people leave church because I'm there."

He was on the management track and had been named employee of the month at his last job. A co-worker discovered that he was a listed sex offender, threatened to blow the whistle, and they were both fired, he said.

That was five years ago.

At a recent job interview with a large company, William was confident he'd landed the position. Told that a routine background check was required, he admitted to being listed on the registry.

William is waiting to hear from the company but doesn't hold out hope.

"I can't get hired," he said. "If somebody would give me a chance."

(...)

Tracy Velazquez, The Policy Institute:

State registries were originally set up to help law enforcement keep track of potentially dangerous and violent sex offenders. They were later expanded to provide information to the public, now by Web sites.

"It's the widespread use over the Internet that has negative effects, Velazquez said. "For law enforcement keeping tabs, it makes sense. But for people trying to live successfully in society, it makes sense for them to have jobs and decent living conditions."

Read the commentary over at the Herald Palladium (An Unfair Stigma, 1/2/2010) here.