Will Crist Protect FL Children?
The Florida ACLU has acted. FINALLY.
I hold in my hand a three page letter that may mark the beginning of ending the madness.
The ACLU of Greater Miami and the ACLU of Florida has united to formally request Florida Governor Charlie Crist "...convene a task force of experts and lawmakers to respond to the public safety and housing crisis that the patchwork of residency restrictions for persons convicted of sexual offenses has created across the state of Florida."
Citing the "makeshift village of individuals who are now living under the bridge of the Julia Tuttle Causeway, and the inability of governmental agencies such as the Department of Corrections to continue to track some persons who are still under supervision...as well as those who have completed their supervision...such situations have the potential to compromise public safety and will not resolve themselves without your intervention."
As has been so documented in this blog countless times, residence restrictions are ineffective at protecting the community. Yet, "these laws have proliferated across the state in recent years. (...) Research from the Minnesota Department of Corrections found that not one of 224 recidivistic sex offenses would have been prevented by residence restrictions." (Residential proximity and sex offense recidivism in Minnesota. 2007.)
"According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 93% of sexually abused children are molested by family members, close friends or acquaintances." (Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2000.)
The requested task force would include representatives from law enforcement, probation, experts in treatment and management of persons convicted of sex offenses, victim advocates, and civil-rights advocates.
The ACLU urges Charlie Crist via written communication to take action where the Legislature has failed, underscoring this situation is "not a crisis that can wait for the 2009 legislative session."
Also signing off on the June 2, 2008 letter to the Governor: Public Defenders of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida; Miami Coalition for the Homeless; Florida Council Against Sexual Violence; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-Miami Chapter; Florida Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers; Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council of Greater Miami; Jill Levenson, Ph.D, LCSW, Lynn University.
Copies have been forwarded to the following: Walter Mitchell, Florida Department of Corrections; Carlos Alvarez, Mayor, Miami-Dade County; Manuel Diaz, Mayor, City of Miami; Matti Bower, Mayor, City of Miami Beach.
And never forget. Many persons subject to these same laws have never physically laid a hand on anyone. But the Florida Legislature--in company with state legislatures many across this country with the blessings of the federal government--have led you ALL to believe that everyone deemed a sex offender is a child molester.
A copy of this letter can be made available to the press.
Feel free to contact Sunny/Smashed Frog via my email. Please write "ACLU" in the subject line.
It's time to put "human" back in "human rights".
Labels: ACLU, America's Dirty Little Secret, Charlie Crist, Florida sex offenses, Julia Tuttle Causeway, protect the children
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posted by Sunny 5:44 PM
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9 Comments:
A big thank you to the two women from the ACLU who signed the letter
So why is he still passing more draconian laws?
http://www.wflxfox29.com/Global/story.asp?S=8515090
Also, visit my blog, when you get a chance:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/
I'm right there with you, anon!
Probably because Crist hasn't figured out he won't be McCain's VP yet--AND--the fact, Crist is a first class idiot.
amen amen amen.
this is awesome but not enough. It hasn't mentioned anywhere the selective prosecution and the witch hunting factor and the expense and wasted resources on what are a very TINY percentage of people.
Less THAN THREE HUNDRED out of three million and I am paying a fat ass city council and a bunch of lazy selective folks to hunt these people down and pursue many of them TO DEATH selectively.
thanks for the news on this.
Vox--
Check your email sometime today.
:)
Residency restrictions are wrong and the proof is out there but the problem is complex. What is being done elsewhere that works and makes sense? Public opinion needs to change but how?
One of our state reps introduced legislation last session which opened up a discussion on no-loitering zones around areas where children are known to gather. IMHO--based on what research tells us--it's just another band-aid for the public, who our legislators have so fooled with the stranger danger fear.
Politicians have so painted themselves into a corner on this issue--registering people convicted of what Florida calls a sex offense, i.e. chatting online, public urination, etc.-- these guys and gals are going to have quite the hard time explaining to voters just how they've been lied to.
My feeling is the laws need to be repealed and the focus should be on the truth, developing proactive laws that protect the public. The truly dangerous should be in jail, not on some list but for those who have committed a first time offense, treatment and support should be provided, not a lifetime of shunning.
That's easier said than done--quite a bit of money is tied up into these laws--law enforcement grant monies, ankle bracelet contracts, and on and on. It's ridiculous.
I think through education and getting the word out on what is really going on will--and is--changing public opinion.
Knowledge has a way of exposing the truth.
Thanks for stopping by, PJ. Keep asking the questions and pass the truth forward.
We can effect public opinion.
I see I am comming in a bit late to this dialogue but I just had to put my 2 cents in when I saw it. I love putting in my 2 cents.
What Sunny say's here is so true. THe Politicians have painted themselves into a corner with their lies and propaganda and now are afraid to do anything about the mess they have made because it would apear "soft" on sex offenders and be political suicide. I suggested public service anouncements with the FACTS about sex offences and sex offenders and WHO is ACTUALLY molesting our chilren and HOW we can best protect them. The answer? We don't have the money. Hmmm, aren't public service anouncements free?
Can't that info be inserted into the multitudes of speeches given all the time by the Politico's. Heck, it would help loads if they would just STOP exaggerating and lying about the situation...that would go a long way.
Florida is in a HUGE budget crunch right now and is looking for ways to cut back in the DOC area. I just bet we have some really good suggestions for them! Lets SHOW THEM THE MONEY! THe money that is wasted. THe money that is taken from DOE and given to DOC. The increased crime rate in many areas because LE is busy monitoring low, no risk former sex offenders.
How about the man hours spent by LE trying to find the many former offenders who are now homeless and transient?!?!?
We are doing a GREAT job in our grass roots education of the public and the Legislature. I still believe the public is the most important to educate...take Iowa as an example.
We need people with some money (am I dreaming again?) to spend it on a load of bill boards, comercials, radio broadcasts, mailed flyers, and oh so much more...and keep those law suits comming:)
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