UPDATED AGAIN: CALL TO ACTION: Correct a FALSE STATISTIC in a Florida Article
News4Jax just posted a story in which their “crime and safety expert” Ken Jefferson (@kenjefferson_) made the FALSE claim that “Statistics have shown over 90% of sexual predators and offenders will reoffend,”
That statistic is completely FALSE and inflammatory. The re offense rate of people required to register as sex offenders or sexual predators is lower than almost all other categories of offenses. Contrary to what Jefferson said, 90% WILL NOT re offend!
Please help by demanding News4Jax publicly correct this statistic.
The story can be found here: https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2019/12/16/30-sex-offenders-predators-in-2-mile-radius-of-mobile-home-park-where-2-children-last-seen/?outputType=amp
UPDATED: THEY REMOVED THE 90% STATISTIC FROM THE WEBSITE BUT IT’S STILL IN THE VIDEO
SECOND UPDATE: THEY NOW REMOVED THE VIDEO. GREAT JOB FAC!!!!
Contact information is below:
WJXT administration – [email protected]
Programming – [email protected]
Lauren Verno – [email protected]
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I was just on the Facebook page for the news station, and the comments thread was very encouraging. The majority of people commenting we’re basically stating this was unnecessary and fear mongering, and that the parents need a closer look, especially after the case this past fall concerning the six year old reported missing by her mother(who is now in jail in connection to her disappearance and murder). It’s a slight glimmer of hope, but it’s at least there.
This is helpful for registrants or others who don’t access Facebook. And it’s good to get encouraging news from time to time, especially regarding Facebook mobs.
E-mail sent to her i dont think they will care sensationalistic news gets ratings as we all know and making false accusations is what today’s “news” agencies are all about
Thank you, you get it. They just do not care. As long as it is a story, they do not care about the facts, it is whoever can get the story out first.
Whenever there is a mass shooting, you can watch 4 different news stations and every one will name a different amount of people shot.
Also anyone arrested is basically on trial on the news if they make it on there.
There are almost never any retractions when it is found someone is innocent. And if you try and sue the news, the courts state press has a free pass to do as they please. Freedom of the press means they can ruin lives with no consequences, spread fake lies and statistics without being held accountable or liable.
I actually cannot stand anyone who works in the news industry. When someone from another country comes over here and bombs a building, they say ” An alleged attack by a person of interest”. But if it is someone accused of any sex crime they immediately call them a child molester or predator before they are even formally charged with anything.
And how about the innocent family members who had nothing to do with anything and yet the news trespasses on their lawn, shoves mics in their faces and say things like ” Did you know your son was a child molester?”
They fixed the story almost immediately.
Awesome job to all who called them out. I do not have a facebook so that way I do not have to register it or any other social media. If I avoid it, I do not have to give it to the Registry Nazis. They can’t monitor what you don’t use.
This station is in my territory. A couple of months ago, I emailed this same station about another inaccurate statement made by Ken Jefferson concerning registrants. I was very cordial in my email. I will be taking a stronger stand this time if the video is not changed quickly.
@SarahF,
Take heed while composing that this “news” station also makes it a point to provide links, pics, info on every single person required to register in Florida.
Although i just checked again to confirm that I’m not giving out misinformation. I’m getting 404’d now. Sooooo, this is a station that DID make it a point to provide links, pics, info on every single person required to register in Florida.
Thank you, Sc. I have their 6pm daily newscast recording on my dvr daily. I will be changing to another local station and will make them aware of it. I have been watching Channel 4 news since I was a child. That was the only news station at the time. They were affiliated with CBS back then. That was a looooooong time ago. Ken Jefferson has to go — good guy but giving out too much incorrect information.
The lady who had the lead-in for the story goes to my church. I once told her that Channel 4 has always been my favorite local station. She is one of the anchors used on the evening news. I will email her, too.
Do you happen to know if any of the other local stations also provide links for info on registered citizens?
While I am at it, I have always been a weather person — used to love the Weather Channel before it broke away from just being a weather channel. I faithfully watch Channel 4’s weather people, too. They need an email. If their channel cannot do something about Ken Jefferson, then I will be recording Tim Deegan instead.
That was the only one in the Jacksonville area that I am aware of. I uh, “lived”, in that viewing area for a time and I thought that was one of the more unbiased channels for news. That isn’t saying much for the quality in that area of Florida.
Grateful for our media chair.
To me, it sounds like the guy is saying “over 9%” instead of “over 90%”
If it wasn’t for the text in the original article and the comments about how “high” it is, we’d buy that.
Done 3X
Here is my e mail:
You need a new crime and safety expert. One who either doesn’t make up false statistics and/or vets the statistics they may read somewhere.
Over 90% of sex offenders re-offend is pure baloney. People convicted of a sex crime have a recidivism rate that is extremely low… second only to murder.
95% of sex crimes are committed by someone NOT on the registry (cops, teachers, family, news workers, etc.). Check out the peer reviewed studies ast the following link.
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/research-and-studies/
Hopefully you’ll report the truth and stop the fear-mongering.
Thanks!
Jim
Perhaps FAC has a positive impact on influencing the news to become more accurate! Thst false statistic is gone from the story.
That was fast! They removed it from the story but it’s still in the video.
The video is completely gone now, or maybe I am just blocked from it
You are right. I cannot find it. I did find this in an article:
Before the children were reported missing, according to JSO records, police had responded to the home four times since January 2017. Records show those calls for service included an armed dispute in March 2019 and a domestic disturbance3 in May 2018.
I am still emailing the station to make sure they are aware of the damage Ken Jefferson has now done twice to law-abiding registrants.
Am still marveling at how swiftly they removed the error.
Congrats all! We are becoming REALLY EFFECTIVE!
More than twice. I recall the “expert” Ken Jefferson spouting the same misinformation on channel 4 over a decade ago. I suspect he’ll be doing the same a decade from now. Fear and sensationalism increase viewership, and more viewership generates increased ad revenue. Truth gets conveniently lost somewhere along the way.