Another perspective on sex offenders
Read it all:
By Tim Walden
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I'm becoming disgruntled with the inaccurate and unfair media attention former sex offenders are receiving. I understand the stigma and political sensitivity, as I understand a parent's desire to protect a child, but at what point does the unjustified witch hunt end and the truthful recognition of fact begin?
During the campaign for Jessica's Law, I began doing research. On the Department of Justice Web site, I found a report entitled "Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994," November 2003.
This is what I learned.
Fact: "Compared to nonsex offenders released from state prison, sex offenders had a lower overall re-arrest rate."
Fact: "Released sex offenders with one prior arrest (the arrest for the sex crime for which they were imprisoned) had the lowest re-arrest rate for a sex crime, about 3 percent."
Fact: "Following their release in 1994, 209 of the total 9,691 released sex offenders (2.2 percent) were re-arrested for a sex offense against a child."
Fact: "Of the 9,691 released sex offenders, 3.5 percent (339 of the 9,691) were reconvicted for a sex crime within the three-year follow-up period."
Fact: "Released child molesters with more than one prior arrest were more likely than those with only one arrest in their criminal record to be re-arrested for a new sex crime (5.7 percent compared to 3.2 percent). The same was true of statutory rapists (5.3 percent compared to 3.5 percent)." A statutory rapist is an individual who had illegal consensual sex with a minor.
These statistics are documented evidence that former offenders pose very little threat to our community, although it's politically taboo for politicians or the Department of Corrections to admit it.
Research has shown that where an offender lives is unrelated to where he/she commits a crime. A predator can find a potential victim regardless of where they live.
...
By Tim Walden
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I'm becoming disgruntled with the inaccurate and unfair media attention former sex offenders are receiving. I understand the stigma and political sensitivity, as I understand a parent's desire to protect a child, but at what point does the unjustified witch hunt end and the truthful recognition of fact begin?
During the campaign for Jessica's Law, I began doing research. On the Department of Justice Web site, I found a report entitled "Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994," November 2003.
This is what I learned.
Fact: "Compared to nonsex offenders released from state prison, sex offenders had a lower overall re-arrest rate."
Fact: "Released sex offenders with one prior arrest (the arrest for the sex crime for which they were imprisoned) had the lowest re-arrest rate for a sex crime, about 3 percent."
Fact: "Following their release in 1994, 209 of the total 9,691 released sex offenders (2.2 percent) were re-arrested for a sex offense against a child."
Fact: "Of the 9,691 released sex offenders, 3.5 percent (339 of the 9,691) were reconvicted for a sex crime within the three-year follow-up period."
Fact: "Released child molesters with more than one prior arrest were more likely than those with only one arrest in their criminal record to be re-arrested for a new sex crime (5.7 percent compared to 3.2 percent). The same was true of statutory rapists (5.3 percent compared to 3.5 percent)." A statutory rapist is an individual who had illegal consensual sex with a minor.
These statistics are documented evidence that former offenders pose very little threat to our community, although it's politically taboo for politicians or the Department of Corrections to admit it.
Research has shown that where an offender lives is unrelated to where he/she commits a crime. A predator can find a potential victim regardless of where they live.
...
posted by the administration at 7:06 PM
2 Comments:
but you do not think that every parent should know the potential risk to there child. as parents there is know way to protect our child for everything but knowing that there is a sex offender close by can make a parent aware. i do not believe in harrassing them or anything like that because it is not my place to judge or make that persons life worse than what it is i believe god will.
How about a non-sex offender, being forced to wear a label that doesen't belong. I am he. convicted of kidnapping, not by displacement or removal, but by simply being in thier home arguing which resulted in assault, a child was present at the time, no sexual contact whatsoever! spent 8.5yrs. in prison and upon my release, i was told i had to register as a sex offender! Get this, it was explained to me that because of U.S. statistics says that a high percentage of kidnappings result in a sexual assault, they decided to add kidnapping as one of the charges listed on sex offender list of charges. "statistics?", so actuality don't exist anymore? so that means because of a statistic I am being forced to live as a sex offender. i am a firm believer and supporter of the laws and punishment for those who committ sexual crimes, but further punishment of someone who has never committed a sexual crime in thier life is taking this shit too damn far....
Post a Comment
<< Home