The latest trend in “sex offender management” seems to be bills that punish individuals or businesses who try to help offenders get on with their lives.
This past legislative session, the Florida Senate tried to pass SB 562, a ridiculous bill which criminalized allowing a registrant to use ones car. The text of the bill stated:
A person may not knowingly authorize or allow a motor vehicle owned by him or her or under his or her dominion or control to be operated on a highway or public street by an individual who is required to register as a sexual predator under s. 775.21 or as a sexual offender under s. 943.0435, s. 944.606, or s. 944.607, except for the sole purpose of the sexual predator’s or sexual offender’s driving to and from work, public service, or treatment. A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
So, in other words, if a mother allows her registrant son to use her car to drive his children to school, pick up groceries, or go to church, she can be charged with a second degree misdemeanor (60 days in Jail)!
This past Wednesday, the governor of Rhode Island actually signed one of these ridiculous bills into law! The new law punishes companies that service “child safe zones” who hire registrants. The zones are not limited to schools or day cares, but include places that don’t cater specifically to minors, such as movie theaters and beaches. The law further punishes companies who hire or use third-party contractors who employ registrants, even if they work off-site.
In other words; a movie theater who retains a third party plumber who employs a registrant to work in their warehouse and who will never be present at the theater, is subjected to punishment.
The fine is $1000 per day that the registrant is employed.
Legislators, realizing that they have beaten registrants so low that their financial means are non-existent, have decided to now go after their family, friends and employers by threatening them with criminal or financial sanctions if they try to help a registrant.
Having been a law enforcement officer, in the 70s, I was appalled to learn how the justice system had been hijacked when my son was arrested. I left law enforcement, somewhat cynical, but after learning how much it has changed since then I see pre-World War II Germany. The National Guard is no longer controlled by the governor, police departments are pseudo military, and the people arresting our children are like the Gestapo. I make this observation because I was involved in both.
Seeing what has happened in Rhode Island and Florida’s last Congressional Session gives me even more reason to be concerned. I have told my family the best time for my son, since his arrest, is his time in prison. When he gets out it will be much more difficult to live and much easier to go back to prison. Lisa Ling’s latest report, labeled for life 18 months later, is a prime example what our children are going to look forward to. It has to do with accepting a plea bargain the registry and was in Texas.
Until politicians stop doing what get them elected and start working on serious matters we will get the results we see. If everyone who is related to and friends of someone arrested, or on the registry, would write a letter to politicians at the same time maybe we could get some results.
I am saddended that I live in this what use to be great country. I see whats going on in Washington so it doesn’t really surprise me. I am praying that the person that can make others listen will speak out and put an end to this. I find it ironic that my grandbabies 1st lesson in VBS this week was about caring for the lepers. She was so intrigued that some people were not loved just becsue they were considered “dirty” by others.. Great time for me to talk to her in as childlike as I could about not believing what you hear on TV or read but to do research yourself. Hoping to start a new generation of independent thinkers.
That is precisely the problem. These legislators are ELECTED officials. They feed the public a bunch of misinformation and then pass these BS laws to make it seem like they are going so far to “protect the public” just so they can get votes.
They prey on the easiest targets because they are defenseless and generally broke, shamed, beaten and non-voters. Registrants are so challenged with the struggle of just finding a place to sleep and affording food that they can’t easily fight back.
The legislators could not care less about public safety. If they are so quick to pass these BS laws in the last legislative session, why, years after studies have consistently proven that residency restrictions are counterproductive, have they not raced to repeal them? Because public safety is not their concern, getting votes AT ANY COST is their objective
I find it so disheartening that legislators feel the need to continue to persecute this population. It is absurd and ridiculous that these people are elected officials and are supposed to be responsible to create legislation that protects all citizens, not just the ones they like… They claim to create these policies in the name if public safety, but I am growing more and more concerned that perhaps these officials are unable to read. If they actually took the time to read any if the mountains of research and recommendations of the experts in the field they would see what that are doing is increasing risk and providing an environment contrary to public safety.
I say to those who vote to send a strong message to your legislators and tell them to act responsibly, humanly and fiscally responsible and stop the madness. This governor should be impeached!