As the March 10th congressional hearing plays in the background while I post, I'd like to give kudos to sdp123a for being the first to upload the video online.
I'd also like to suggest the read of a post by Laurie Peterson, who attended the hearings. Over at Citizens for Change, Peterson writes about her discussion held with Mark Lunsford that same day.
"...After taking a seat next to Mary (in the 2nd row!) I approached Mark Lunsford. I indicated that my husband was on the registry for life for a teenage consensual offense, much like his son would have faced if it were not for Mark's intervention. Mark indicated that his son served 10 days, but did still plea to a felony. He said that he advised OH prosecutors that he would expose every sex offense case where they gave a lenient sentence to a true sex offender if they treated his son like one of those predators. And so, his son avoided registration..."
"...a true sex offender..." You see, even Lunsford knows. Many listed on the nation's registries have no business being there. (Read how the rest of Laurie's conversation went with ML here. Also, I have to give Lunsford a sarcastic kudo for revictimizing his daughter's tragic death by choosing to wear a tie depicting her face as he testified before the hearing. Classy).
I'd also like to point out that another soul from Citizen of Change posted their opinion over at Daily Kos and were subsequently dismissed by two who bothered to comment at all. (I put my two cents in here.) But take it from this Frog who has stopped posting to the Kos pond a long time ago....in a way, the two comments shout volumes. My past attempts to educate that crowd fell on the truly uneducated ears of those who stood unafraid to blast their ignorance in those initial dark days. Their silence today reflects the education by the grassroots is being heard.
And that word continues to be heard as evidenced by these links post-hearing.
After finding out the hard way that I could not stop and start the video (heavy sigh) my initial impressions of the minority thus far is their refusal to let go of the Friendly Stranger myth.
But to scramble a quote from Shakespeare, they "....doth protest too much, methinks."
Why? As suggested by the prosecutor from Louisiana, "the devil lies in the details."
And from what I'm hearing as the video drones on, those details lie with the construction of this Act itself. Not by lawmakers, but by a couple of employees from the SMART office who drafted the guidelines. With no staffing and short-handed, with no funding to hire, somewhere along the line somebody made a decision to hey, let's go ahead and write it anyway. IMHO, that's criminal.
As I close this post, the statement "...not all sex offenders are alike...." is voiced before the Subcommittee. With thoughts of those who have worked so hard to hear this simple truth (among others) spoken before those responsible for the misery placed upon our loved ones while burdening our innocent families with collateral damage, I remain ever hopeful.
I listen on.
8 comments:
so many more should have been called to be heard before this law was even passed Jill Levenson is one that comes to mind among so many other TRUE experts in the field ,not people that gain money or fame or power from a law such as this.D
I'm certain she (Levenson) will be heard. This is just the beginning. Did you see Scott's face when he was told that a 19 year old convicted of consensual sex with a 15 year old would be listed as a Tier 2 registrant?
The fact that many are on the registry due to chatting words online wasn't even broached, that states have gone as far to legislate words exchanged between adults to be a sex offense when a LE takes on the role of an underage person.
Ridiculous.
This is way from over. I'm with eadvocate on this one. Wait and watch and once we get to send our stories in, these people will not believe the abuse that has been going on regarding this issue.
I also love the guy from Seattle. He made the point about research by asking for a panel of experts.
I predict this thing won't be resolved for a long time.
I am against the registry. I am against not allowing people to show again that they can be trusted. THat is obvious, as I, have written my stoy here, I am Texas Anon.
I will say however, that Lundsford will be in for a shock. his son or whoever it was that got in trouble will continue to do it without the proper classes educating him on he ego issues.
The SORNA guidelines are very pervasive, and thus do not allow any of the goals that we as rSO's and those in the justice community want, no more victims. For as long as you place the letter on us, there will be some that decide that if they will be treated as criminals, they will continue to act as such.
We here time and again that once you are done with your crime, you have paid the debt and will move forward. AWA, unlike any other law before it, is not a forward looking law. It continues to look at the past offense and judging people on that past moment. Humanity will always learn from mistakes as long as you give them the positive opportunity. Currently the only thing that the predators learn is NOT to get caught.
Give a person their dignity, and you would be amazed at what they will accomplish, keep it from them and you will be amazed at the destruction they are capable of doing.
Here is a backup video posting of the hearing since some people cannot view the AdobeFlash version:
U.S. Congress Hearing on Adam Walsh Act / SORNA - http://vimeo.com/3607467
Texas...
Thanks for your comments...and your story. Read it here.
SORNA and the registries at the state level as well as public notification are against everything this country stands for...a second chance.
As far a those who feel tragic crimes can be stopped before they occur, such as Lunsford and the panel member who kept bringing up yet another tragic case in Washington state, the only real way to control such happenings is through education. I found it telling that the perp in the WA case wore an ankle bracelet at the time of his crime.
I also find it interesting that Lunsford never brought up the fact that Couey (his daughter's killer) had asked the state of Florida to Baker Act him and the court let him walk.
The key is through education...education...education.
Oh..and PARENTING. In both the Lunsford case and the Walsh case, this proved a huge factor...as again noted with the Haleigh and Caylee disappearances.
Thanks for the additional link, const.
Here it is: SORNA Hearings.
If you happen across the transcript of this hearing, will you please post. Also, it did not appear that subcommittee rep-- sweet Deb Wasserman Schultz --bothered to attend, but I'd like to clarify that before I blast her.
If anyone noticed her skulk in and out of the hearings, again, thanks for letting me know.
Deb ain't about all that fixing stuff. WAS IT TELEVISED??? THen she'd be there.
Sunny I want to put my two cents in here. Not only is the Dept of Children and Families used in a punitive fashion but this SICK group of laws in used in a punitive manner perversely.
IF they can use this law to threaten completely innocent people with putting them on the sex offenders list then there are DEFINITELY people on this list who not just don't belong there for the reasons you all always discuss BUT also for the reason that they truly REALLY have done nothing 'wrong'.
It is se3ective prosecution.
Mark Lunsford: SHAME ON YOU. SHAME ON YOU SHAME ON YOU. IF YOU KNOW that there are people on that list who don't belong there and also people NOT on that list who should be than YOU are a criminal, as well.
Publicly, this time.
Couple points I wanted to add.
I have a family member who has been obliquely threatened with this sex offender status. Over our property. IF they are using it as a threat this law is so perverted as to be ILLEGAL.
A huge problem at this moment is Obama's refusal to replace these people who parade as Justice Dept attorneys. In Hillsborough, Pinellas, Brevard, Pasco and other counties throughout florida and the united states the State's Attorney's offices AND the State's Attorney stand directly in the path of justice.
I've been followed around town by Mark Ober's altar boys and girls. IF we are quiet THAT is how they get away with this BULLSHIT.
MAKE MORE NOISE.
I had forgotten how very powerful ONE voice can be. (not the blue cross blue shield one voice LMAO)
The power of one dissenting voice is immense.
I never did like KOS I tried to go there for a few peoples' posts but quickly grew tired of the format and idiocy.
I became very bored with the trolls on the Kos.
And no, the hearings were not televised...I do know a few reps slipped in and out, so I'd like to find out for certain.
I guess I could email the person that actually attended.
(Wonder why that took me three days to figure out...ha ha!)
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