Here’s an interesting story that came out today from Orange County.
A registrant is arrested for not providing his email address and other information, but that information was used in connection with him getting an IT certification after finishing prison. A condition of his probation was that he not use any device with internet access.
The reality is; in this day and age it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to live a normal life without using a device with internet access. Practically all communication that doesn’t take place in person is done electronically and most jobs require computer access. Those that don’t, such as landscaping or pizza delivery, are precluded for other reasons.
So what’s someone to do? Bend the rules so they can advance and earn a living doing things that are otherwise lawful, or resign to a life of unemployment and indigence? It’s really a bad choice to make and can put someone who does something otherwise perceived as a positive step (getting an education) into Jail.
No matter what; committing further internet offenses will still be illegal and severely punished, so why is it necessary to block access to the internet entirely and especially for lawful purposes, such as education or employment?
Something to push for…
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
A sex offender convicted of soliciting a minor for sex online is back in jail.
Channel 9’s Janine Reyes found out _____ _____ went from prison to IT tech school where he got his computer certification.
Reyes also learned the school knew about _____’ past and almost kept him out of the program.
One of the conditions of _____’ probation was that he was not allowed to use any device with internet access.
His account representative at the New Horizons school said _____got in the program and had classes paid for with a grant.
The facility offers courses in forensics and cyber security, and offers training for the FBI and military.
In 2007, investigators said _____told an undercover detective online, whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl, things like “we can go slow at first” and “I just hope you and I can get together tonight.”
Authorities charged _____in Polk County in 2007, and he was ordered not to use any computers.
A jury found him guilty in 2008, and he was classified as a violent offender because he violated his probation on the sex charges.
He’s now accused of not providing his email address, phone number, address or other information to probation officers watching over him.
_____ will stay behind bars for at least five days.
Require a registered citizen to earn a living and be a law biding citizen and then make it impossible to do so. Total craziness.
I certainly do not know all the details here but I would be willingly to bet that if the school knew his status then he probably had told his PO officer that he was attending the school – which to me says he thought he had covered all the bases. I really hate the media in these situations – they make it sound so lurid that he was going to IT school (the implication that it was so he could do more computer sex crimes)