The Tallahassee Democrat posted an opinion piece on City Walk Ministries, criticizing it for the work they do to help the homeless INCLUDING people required to register.
Among the very offensive statements from the writer, Barney Bishop, is that “women and children have every right to fear for their safety.” Come on, Mr. Bishop! As CEO of the “Florida Smart Justice Alliance” you should know better.
You can read the story here: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2021/02/18/tallahassee-homeless-issue-city-walk-shelter-needs-move/6771847002/, but more important, please post supportive comments or contact the writer or editor.
Until the US Constitution ceases to apply to those on “the registry,” he can try, but Barney Bishop doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Barney Bishop, in a testimony to the Florida House Judiciary Committee on March 3, 2014, offered this gem of a comment regarding a proposed 50 year minimum sentence law in committee:
“We think that very long sentences are warranted; in fact, we’d like longer sentences. And I would just say in closing that with respect to smart justice that maybe what we ought to really be doing is thinking about giving the victims’ families an opportunity to have visitation with the perpetrators and a pair of scissors. That’s our idea of smart justice, Mr. Chairman, not anything short of that.”
The guy is a real piece of work! His “Smart Justice Alliance” site hasn’t been updated in years and he’s totally irrelevant.
He replied to several member’s emails with “we care about VICTIMS not CRIMINALS”. It’s clear where he stands.
Barney Bishop can’t figure out whether he’s supposed to care about former victims who have turned to crime. Our criminal justice system is filled with them, but that’s too much nuance for him to grasp. If you Care about victims, but don’t care about criminals, in the real world what are you supposed to care about?
*”If you care about victims” damn auto-complete
The Smart Justice Alliance is just a guy sitting in an office. It’s an “alliance” between Barney Bishop and himself.
It’d be as if I set up my own entity, the Florida Coalition for the Abolition of Public Conviction Registries, then penned a column and identified myself as president and CEO of that coalition.
The guy is a registered lobbyist.
Jacob, you made me think of the scene in the movie “Little Children” when the one vigilante guy admits that he’s the sole member of the “Committee of Concerned Citizens.”
Only problem is when I went back to confirm the statement Bishop made on 3/3/14 to prove he’s full of crap, the Judiciary Committee referred to him repeatedly during the meeting.
Unfortunately, lobbyists like him and the Books don’t need to have a large group. Lauren’s Kids isn’t a large group of people, either. But they are seen favorably by a legislature who revels in torturing former offenders. Matt Gaetz was on that committee that day. None of the legislators rebuked Bishop’s statement.
Well, I’ll welcome him to a one-on-one debate. He can even bring his scissors. But I won’t need them to cut through his Bovine Stool.
So they would rather they wander around living in the woods, under a bridge with no help? That makes someone more dangerous and desperate in my opinion. If these folks are getting a place to wash up and sleep, they can feel more confident and maybe find a job somewhere as a productive citizen.
When you take away someone’s hope, you create a dangerous situation. Even inmates who have a tentaive release date have a goal to work towards. That is why those who have a life without parole are more dangerous than those with hope. (MY opinion) but since I saw it in person on the inside, I think I can say I saw enough to form an opinion.
People need hope, goals, help, compassion, caring, love and prayers, just as much as food, shelter, a warm shower and medical care.
If Mr. Bishop took the time to educate himself on the actual recidivism rates and the efficacy of residency restrictions (or lack thereof), I would hope he would not have make comments such as, “women and children have every right to fear for their safety” or imply that their proximity to any location has something to do with public safety. It is these types of comments that foster vigilantism. Not only against the individuals at City Walk, but against anyone on the registry living near someone reading his article.
Surprising the CEO of an organization named “Smart Justice Alliance” could be so biased and ignorant.
My post on the newspaper’s article:
Mr. Bishop, please tell me what part of ‘smart justice’ is applicable to what you have stated here? Also, who are you aligned with? I take exception to your writing. As and organization who does not practice ‘selective redemption’ we advocate for the families whose loved one is a citizen required to register. Please be mindful of the fact that your verbiage attacking the dedicated individuals in this article might be construed by vigilantes as a call for action.
Collateral damage; murder, harassment, threatened, children beaten, signs placed in their yards, homes set on fire, vehicles damaged, asked to leave their churches and other organizations, children passed over for educational opportunities, neighbors distributing flyers, wives lose their jobs by relationship. Academics and researchers indicate 3 things are needed for successful reintegration; a job, place to live and “positive” support system.
Based on the ‘Frightening and High’ essay recidivism rates are very very low and nowhere near the high percentage often used in testimony before Florida legislative committees. Please Google this essay.
A study reviewing sexual crimes:
a) 93% of child sexual abuse victims knew their abuser;
b) 34.2% were family members;
c) 58.7% were acquaintances;
d) Only 7% of the perpetrators of child victims were strangers;
e) 40% of sexual assaults take place in the victim’s own home;
f) 20% take place in the home of a friend, neighbor or relative (Jill Levenson, PhD, Lynn University)