Good Article: Longmont weighs ‘arbitrary’ sex offender residency restrictions
Data shows little efficacy for an approach that could open the door to lawsuits.
A weeks-long effort to create legislation that will limit where — and with whom — registered sex offenders can live in the city of Longmont came to a head Tuesday night.
City council voted 6-1 to move a bill forward that would prohibit registered sex offenders from living within 500 feet of schools, daycares and public and private parks, and prohibit more than three offenders from living together. Council will hold a public hearing and final vote on the ordinance at its May 20 meeting.
As of March 4, 286 registered sex offenders reside in the city of Longmont. There are 202 with felony offenses — 21 of whom are unhoused.
A 2004 study conducted by the SOMB found that placing location restrictions on sex offenders “may not deter the sex offender from re-offending and should not be considered as a method to control sexual offending recidivism,” and “efforts should be made to ensure that the sex offender’s support in the home is positive in order to aid in his or her treatment.”
While the SOMB has not issued a formal stance on the issue, the report was provided to members of Longmont City Council in a March 19 email from the Office of Domestic Violence and Sex Offender Management obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act.
“I would like to provide this information for you from our office so you all have what you need to make the best decisions possible for your community,” the letter from SOMB implementation specialist Erin Austin stated.
Still, the Longmont residents who have been fighting to push the ordinance forward argue this is the only way.
“I also recognize and appreciate the efforts of sincere individuals and orgs that want to help reduce the likelihood of individuals recommitting a sex offense,” resident Steven Faas said at the May 6 meeting. “Our community needs to balance this with safety and the needs of other residents. We need to protect the vulnerable. We need boundaries.”
Unintended consequences
Residency restrictions are definitively effective at one thing: banning registered sex offenders from certain neighborhoods.
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*Moderation does not equal censorship*
Why I am leaving F.A.C after many years.
I actually stood up for those bashing us because it showed how we are treated on a daily basis. However, these haters can say just about anything about us, but we cannot say what we want. I have been on F.A.C for many, many years and have always been allowed to add a bible verse (If it was relevant) to my post.
One time someone else posted an Islamic prayer and I welcomed it so that it showed all people were welcome to comment within reason. I do not put the Christian scripture in every post but occasionally did. But the new staff on F.A.C has completely blocked every post of mine with a bible verse except one that they liked (But they removed/edited my post taking away the scripture)
Anyway, I am a strong minded person and can take a lot of abuse but the ONE and only reason I would fall on the sword is for God and my family.
I hope a few on here will miss me, and am sure the haters will rejoice I am leaving, but they didn’t run me off, F.A.C chose that for me. I will miss everyone and will pray for those who are struggling. I love you all (Including the haters). Peace I leave with you and maybe some of us will meet in person, in better circumstances.
This will be the end of my duty, the end of my tour.
* Remember, we are being berated on our own site by outsiders but we cannot share something as simple as an innocent bible verse, while being called names in a place where we come to feel safe. I am not sorry, I choose God instead of being edited out or completely removed due to mentioning religion on occasion. Love you all and will pray for all of us to be strong and fight the good fight.
Good man
I don’t get it, Cherokeejack. For years, virtually every major anti-registry group has, at times, allowed a platform for haters. Whenever I question this policy, I have been censored and/or attacked.
I do not believe our haters should be allowed a voice on any anti-registry comment section. There are plenty of other places they can whine and complain. People can claim this leads to an “echo chamber” effect all they want, but persons negatively impacted by sex offense laws need a place where their voices can be heard and discuss these laws from a personal level. If we just want to be berated and talked down to we can just go to Reddit of Facebook or Twittler.
@Derek
AMEN! and again I say amen.
I have no power on this site and if I was able to give money, I would stop once they allowed people to come on and take away the only site we use to feel free on. Why would anyone give donations while being attack, berated and put down on a site meant to be the only place in the U.S we can share our souls with those in the same situation.
I do welcome outsiders if they are respectful but instead we sign in each day to read an article, and the comments are all full of how horrible we are, how we should be sent to Hell, another country, back to prison, killed etc etc.
But as I stated in my closing arguments, I put up with until they started sensoring me allowing a bible verse. And to throw it in my face, they sent me a copy yesterday of ONE they allowed through out of about 10. Not like I was preaching a sermon.
Oh well, all good things fall to come to an end.
I absolutely agree with you and feel exact same sentiments. I stand with God and have used several scriptures a few times to back up what I was saying. All those comments was blocked. I then decided to no longer be a paying member of FAC and my involvement else where with FAC dramatically declined as well. I understand this is not a church etc. However, I can get on here and read the other BS from the opposition? Yeah, no I am good. I might be careful cause soon you won’t even be able to mention GOD. Whenever I feel like I have to walk on egg shells to comfort the non-believers, then I don’t belong in that group. At least not like I was, contributing time and money.
Sooooo, now I just read a few emails from FAC and delete. That’s about as far as my involvement goes anymore.
Tim
Thank you Brother. God bless you and thank you for backing me and standing up for the unbalance that is happing on F.A.C.
No longer a welcoming site for those who have a criminal past. This was my one and only site to come on that I felt welcomed and I no longer feel that way. Last year I wrote an entire article about an excellent lawyer who takes our cases and he even came on the site and followed up on what I wrote about him and many people hired him.
That was my way of helping those on here.
Job well done
The craziest part of the whole residency restriction scheme, is that you can be at any location, DURING THE DAY, WHEN CHILDREN ARE AWAKE AND PLAYING ETC. But come 10 pm or so…when everyone is locked away in their homes, children all snuggled in their beds….THEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AND GO ROAM THE STREETS. And of course now homelessness is illegal. There aren’t enough shelters….OH BUT YOU CAN’T STAY THERE EITHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG@!@!@!
That’s a very sick and disturbing comment to make. Referencing a child in bed. Sick. Go back to prison, nasty lady.
Thank you Mary for bringing out the true sickos visiting this forum—
those who view the words “children all snuggled in their beds” and instantly have “sick and disturbing” thoughts
Did you notice that the commenter named himself after a painter of nude girls?
You can understand why the coward wouldn’t use his real name. Botticelli go take your sick fantasies somewhere else. This isn’t the right forum for you.
Amazing. My mother, God rest her soul, would have referred to that person as one who considers themselves “holier than thou”. Bot…you have no clue what you’re talking about. I envy you. I wish I were still ignorant.
I am actually very holy, thank you for acknowledging it! I did paint the very first humans in the vision of God Himself! But you’re still very disturbed, for mentioning those words about kids being in the position you’re in, Mary! Nasty nasty lady 🤢
Mary mentioned “children snuggled in their beds.”
That prompted Botticelli to think of something “sick and disturbing.”
That’s a reflection on Botticelli, not Mary.
Mr Jacob,
Unfortunately your knowledge of Florentie Renaissance Art is poor
Jacob..you’re Dull
Predators are not allowed to talk about kids at all or mention them. It’s not our fault, in the rest of society, that they have to be monitored and micromanaged. Then don’t be a sex offender I guess? You can always move to Alcatraz or somewhere else with just a bunch of rocks and great whites to stare at?
What is your real Name and share what crime you commited since you’re not a coward)
Who are you to decide, what people should or shouldn’t say?
Jacobi. Wow.. what’s good for a Goose is good for a Gander( get the message?
@Botticelli if the first thing that pops in your head when you hear the phrase “children snuggled in their beds” is something inappropriate then you might be the problem.
Do I have a chance as a register sex offenderto bring my fiancee from Jamaica .I’m not familiar with laws . Anybody had any advice?
Thanks
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It is all about how the laws FEEL rather than how they WORK.
Colorado and Minnesota were the two states that had conducted research into residency restrictions and found rthey did not work. Yet they allow municipalities to make their own ordinances.
I do plan on getting to Colorado and looking at municipal ordinances like I have for FloriDUH and Nebraska. In FL and NE, many of the restrictions were passed around 2005/2006, in the years after the murder of Jessica Lunsford, Jetseta Gage, Carlie Beucia, and Sarah Lunde; each of these set off an unprecedented wave of predator panic.
I do not know yet or even have a theory as to why municipal residency restrictions are increasing (it isn’t fueled by any high-profile cases) other than the current polirical climate that is partial to extremely punitive tactics.
They pass them because most cities are just realizing they can and move those folks completly out of cities and counties under the BS of safety. I believe the underlying reason is real estate values were suffering.
Always read your post and agreed with most.
May God be with you on your journey.
Absolute evidence civilization isn’t civilized and hasn’t changed in the least from its bloody barbaric witch burning and feeding Christians to the Lions days.. Ever read the Bible and find it hard to believe the very people Christ fed and healed were the ones that demanded he be crucified? Notice they never even care to ask who is a sex offender in my neighborhood, what is their real crime? The majority of registered individuals are teenage mistaken identity or young consensual actions and many are even under 14 years old when placed on the registry.. They don’t care, they want blood, suffering, pain , someone the government will allow them to abuse so they can feel better about their miserable existence…Poll it, I have many times.When people don’t think others are listening 85% or more of Americans I’ve polled admit that they would be sex offenders under Americas laws..They’ve done acts questionable enough to be considered criminal under Americas bizarre and chaotic codes…BUT all agree they are “special” in the fact they were never caught … This special never were caught are the ones who are most active tormenting those who were.. Watch the big names when they fall.. always the ones who were chasing others… It will never end because it’s a license for the truly evil to be who they are and fel morally superior doing it.. Why do you think the Germans didn’t revolt when the Nazis did the same things? Because the German people were allowed to participate to… same as today.. expect worse before better still..
And what does this do for someone who has lived in a home (and perhaps even owns it) within those restrictions for years? It’s ridiculous in my opinion. 501 yards is okay, but 500 is not. Makes zero sense.
Does this apply for Florida/ Pinnelas?
My Back yard is 100 feet wide so I guess that would be the length of about 5 properties? That would make it impossible to live anywhere, other than the woods, and even that may be too close.
Not sure why this headline says good article. Nothing good about it. Guess eventually we will all live in the desert or a remote island.
Island sounds good,
One of the key statements in this article is:
‘Despite the data and potential litigation costs, council members have voiced their belief that these restrictions will assuage fears in the community. ‘
So, in essence, it doesn’t matter to them what the facts are and how much it could cost to fight against the unconstitutionality of such a restriction;what matters only to them is the public sense of security even if it’s only based on myths and lies.
It’s one thing to make judgements being ignorant of the truth, but it’s an utter abomination of justice to know the truth and turn your back on it.
Distance ordinances will never, ever stop someone who is Hell bent on doing something.
And all registries do is cause divisions in neighborhoods. I have several neighbors who are very nice and respectful to me, and others drive by my house every day and always stare as they drive by like they are going to find me running around in the front yard without any clothes on.
Some who are dog walkers won’t even come on my side of the street, and the ones who do, are there to purposely let their dog go doo doo in my yard. I always get a glove and walk down to their yard and return their dogs property.
You’re a good person.
Romans 3:10
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.
So true. And how do you fight that?