Comments on: Sex offender bill passes Senate unanimously, but could face GOP opposition in House http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house Iowa politics, news, and commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:46:10 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: sjfb1953 http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-19929 sjfb1953 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:06:58 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-19929 I have a son who is being forced by the DOC to sign up on the sex offender registry even though a judge issued an order that he was Not to sign up. I think that it's all a political joke!! The worst offenders are the "officials" that push this type of legislation! They are deliberately and maliciously destroying lives and futures of people without consideration of the circumstances of the alleged crime. I have a son who is being forced by the DOC to sign up on the sex offender registry even though a judge issued an order that he was Not to sign up. I think that it's all a political joke!! The worst offenders are the “officials” that push this type of legislation! They are deliberately and maliciously destroying lives and futures of people without consideration of the circumstances of the alleged crime.

]]> By: sjfb1953 http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-17709 sjfb1953 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:06:58 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-17709 I have a son who is being forced by the DOC to sign up on the sex offender registry even though a judge issued an order that he was Not to sign up. I think that it's all a political joke!! The worst offenders are the "officials" that push this type of legislation! They are deliberately and maliciously destroying lives and futures of people without consideration of the circumstances of the alleged crime. I have a son who is being forced by the DOC to sign up on the sex offender registry even though a judge issued an order that he was Not to sign up. I think that it's all a political joke!! The worst offenders are the “officials” that push this type of legislation! They are deliberately and maliciously destroying lives and futures of people without consideration of the circumstances of the alleged crime.

]]> By: 1mother4all http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-17022 1mother4all Tue, 26 May 2009 17:34:14 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-17022 My son of almost 18 was put under the test of what he did wrong; in my feelings, the girls feelings and the parents of the young girl mentioned above, what he is punished for is wrong but the law took over. How many did she or he do before getting someone tossed in jail. That’s the real question? If consent is there, why punish someone. It takes two, and she and he wanted it why punish one? <br><br>The people that should be convicted, are the ones who do it with out consent.<br><br>He can not even see his baby and I have to leave my home and go someplace else so that I can be with his son, 15 months old baby, just so he has a place to be while we are together.<br><br>The person he has as a probation officer does not even want to help him, after prison time was completed, she has made it difficult for him to get a job, LIMITS ON WHAT COUNTIES HE CAN GO IN, (only three counties, you know when you live in a small town that limits your ability to stand on your own.) AND THE FACT THAT SHE IS OVER 35 OR 50 MINS AWAY FOR HIM TO HAVE TO SEE HER EVERY TWO WEEKS with out a car and no money to get to and from, I bought him a car, but the darn thing broke down over the holiday and again today Tuesday May 26 and now I am without work because he had to go and see his probation officer and again he will have to go on Wed, and she could not even give him the chance to be with the family over the holiday but expects us to drop all that there is to make sure she and he meet, that is not helping the person who is being charged with the hideous crime but hindering the people that can help him make a new life. He is trying so hard to abide by her rules but yet she keeps pulling and pushing unlike his first probation officer that he had before we had to move to this county, so he would have a home. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON HOW TO STOP THE WRONG PEPOLE FROM BEING IN THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS LET ME KNOW. THOUGHT SHE WAS HERE TO HELP HIM MAKE A NEW LIFE, NOT TAKE OVER AND END HIS LIFE.<br><br>It is very unfair that people like her/him can get away with this, they are to help the people out there, not make it impossible for them to regain a life in this world.<br><br>m&s w/consent My son of almost 18 was put under the test of what he did wrong; in my feelings, the girls feelings and the parents of the young girl mentioned above, what he is punished for is wrong but the law took over. How many did she or he do before getting someone tossed in jail. That’s the real question? If consent is there, why punish someone. It takes two, and she and he wanted it why punish one?

The people that should be convicted, are the ones who do it with out consent.

He can not even see his baby and I have to leave my home and go someplace else so that I can be with his son, 15 months old baby, just so he has a place to be while we are together.

The person he has as a probation officer does not even want to help him, after prison time was completed, she has made it difficult for him to get a job, LIMITS ON WHAT COUNTIES HE CAN GO IN, (only three counties, you know when you live in a small town that limits your ability to stand on your own.) AND THE FACT THAT SHE IS OVER 35 OR 50 MINS AWAY FOR HIM TO HAVE TO SEE HER EVERY TWO WEEKS with out a car and no money to get to and from, I bought him a car, but the darn thing broke down over the holiday and again today Tuesday May 26 and now I am without work because he had to go and see his probation officer and again he will have to go on Wed, and she could not even give him the chance to be with the family over the holiday but expects us to drop all that there is to make sure she and he meet, that is not helping the person who is being charged with the hideous crime but hindering the people that can help him make a new life. He is trying so hard to abide by her rules but yet she keeps pulling and pushing unlike his first probation officer that he had before we had to move to this county, so he would have a home. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON HOW TO STOP THE WRONG PEPOLE FROM BEING IN THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS LET ME KNOW. THOUGHT SHE WAS HERE TO HELP HIM MAKE A NEW LIFE, NOT TAKE OVER AND END HIS LIFE.

It is very unfair that people like her/him can get away with this, they are to help the people out there, not make it impossible for them to regain a life in this world.

m&s w/consent

]]> By: HysteriaBGone http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-16652 HysteriaBGone Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:49:34 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-16652 Hear Hear! Hear Hear!

]]> By: HysteriaBGone http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-16644 HysteriaBGone Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:45:50 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-16644 This is a positive first step for Iowa. But this type of legislation should go further. According to the Department Of Justice and many university studies, less than 10% of sex offenders re-offend and most sexual abuse is committed by people known to the victim (i.e. a parent), not by strangers.<br>The laws should change to reflect these facts!<br>Right now, there are thousands of people listed on registries who have never committed rape or even attempted to. Public urination, public breast-feeding, voyeurism, streaking, teenagers exchanging nude photos of themselves on cellphones (aka "sexting"), and teenagers having consensual sex with other teenagers are all registrable offenses.<br>In Maine, one Congresswoman (Dawn Hill) even wants to make staring at a minor for too long a sexual offense! These may be inappropriate activities, but certainly do not warrant decades of ostracizing on a sex offender registry.<br>The registry obviously needs reform so that only legitimate predators will be listed on it. I see that Iowa is beginning to differentiate, but again, Iowa needs to go further. Low-risk offenders should never be blocked from taking their families to a park or picking up their kids from school. Children are more likely to be harmed by a meth-addict than someone who peed on a sign ten years ago!<br>The only people who profit from these expensive feel-good laws are crooked politicians, not the common taxpayer. There is no evidence that residency restrictions prevent sexual abuse, and in fact, they may increase the danger from those who are truly dangerous since they encourage them to stop registering altogether. Therefore I support the abolishment of zoning laws.<br>The original intent of Megan's Law was to monitor violent sex offenders only and that is what the laws should do now. This is a positive first step for Iowa. But this type of legislation should go further. According to the Department Of Justice and many university studies, less than 10% of sex offenders re-offend and most sexual abuse is committed by people known to the victim (i.e. a parent), not by strangers.
The laws should change to reflect these facts!
Right now, there are thousands of people listed on registries who have never committed rape or even attempted to. Public urination, public breast-feeding, voyeurism, streaking, teenagers exchanging nude photos of themselves on cellphones (aka “sexting”), and teenagers having consensual sex with other teenagers are all registrable offenses.
In Maine, one Congresswoman (Dawn Hill) even wants to make staring at a minor for too long a sexual offense! These may be inappropriate activities, but certainly do not warrant decades of ostracizing on a sex offender registry.
The registry obviously needs reform so that only legitimate predators will be listed on it. I see that Iowa is beginning to differentiate, but again, Iowa needs to go further. Low-risk offenders should never be blocked from taking their families to a park or picking up their kids from school. Children are more likely to be harmed by a meth-addict than someone who peed on a sign ten years ago!
The only people who profit from these expensive feel-good laws are crooked politicians, not the common taxpayer. There is no evidence that residency restrictions prevent sexual abuse, and in fact, they may increase the danger from those who are truly dangerous since they encourage them to stop registering altogether. Therefore I support the abolishment of zoning laws.
The original intent of Megan's Law was to monitor violent sex offenders only and that is what the laws should do now.

]]> By: National_Coalition http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-16564 National_Coalition Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:26:28 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-16564 I am so tired of listening to these nonsense articles and propaganda by prosecutors and law enforcement who claim that sexual abuse of children is epidemic. If a sexual offender is going to strike, NO LAW is going to prevent it. The only thing that WILL prevent sexual abuse against children is education and proper parental management. Parents are always looking for free babysitters; like the internet, video games, parks, school zones, etc, rather than keeping an eye on their own kids. Secondly, sexual assaults in school zones and "where children gather" rarely occur. You've all been listening to knuckleheads without a clue. Prosecutors and some law enforcement officials love to cause hysteria over hobglobins. The fact is that repeating a sexual offense is also considered a rarity. Check your facts people! The result of all this sex offender bashing is going to be the creation of an extremely dangerous sub culture of former criminals without hope. Politicians are exploiting this issue because they have no real solutions to the problems that are TRULY plaguing our society. This is all hobglobin nonsense. It sounds good, but is truly making things much worse. It won't happen over night, but beware, a Revolution is Calling! I am so tired of listening to these nonsense articles and propaganda by prosecutors and law enforcement who claim that sexual abuse of children is epidemic. If a sexual offender is going to strike, NO LAW is going to prevent it. The only thing that WILL prevent sexual abuse against children is education and proper parental management. Parents are always looking for free babysitters; like the internet, video games, parks, school zones, etc, rather than keeping an eye on their own kids. Secondly, sexual assaults in school zones and “where children gather” rarely occur. You've all been listening to knuckleheads without a clue. Prosecutors and some law enforcement officials love to cause hysteria over hobglobins. The fact is that repeating a sexual offense is also considered a rarity. Check your facts people! The result of all this sex offender bashing is going to be the creation of an extremely dangerous sub culture of former criminals without hope. Politicians are exploiting this issue because they have no real solutions to the problems that are TRULY plaguing our society. This is all hobglobin nonsense. It sounds good, but is truly making things much worse. It won't happen over night, but beware, a Revolution is Calling!

]]> By: TimPa http://iowaindependent.com/14338/sex-offender-law-passes-senate-unanimously-but-could-face-gop-opposition-in-house/comment-page-1#comment-16549 TimPa Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:07:30 +0000 http://iowaindependent.com/?p=14338#comment-16549 I do not get it after 25 years in Law Enforcement and I still do not understand why these people that we elect refuse to listen to anyone. They need to pass this law and stop using the 2,000 ft rule. It makes no one safe to say a sex offender can not sleep within 2,000 ft of a school and yet they can hang around the school all day if they like. And come on the real facts on sex offenders from the US Dept. Of Justice show that sex offenders have one of the lowest recidivism rates amoung most criminals at a reconviction rate of 3.5% within three years of release from prison. Most criminals are in the 45% recidivism rates. And who is doing these sex crimes, again look to the studies; 90% of the victims know the accused very well with over 50% of them being a family member. 95% of those arrested for sexual assault have no prior arrest record. Those criminals released from prison for non sex crimes, when released commit in real numbers more sexual assaults then do released sex offenders. So maybe we need to have a Criminal Offender registry that list everyone ever arrested for anything on it, including those arrested for driving while Intoxicated. After all drunk drivers kill and injure more childern every year then do sex crimes. But sex crimes are so dam bad that is the reason we must watch those who are child molesters. But the word sex offender does not = child molester. I do not get it after 25 years in Law Enforcement and I still do not understand why these people that we elect refuse to listen to anyone. They need to pass this law and stop using the 2,000 ft rule. It makes no one safe to say a sex offender can not sleep within 2,000 ft of a school and yet they can hang around the school all day if they like. And come on the real facts on sex offenders from the US Dept. Of Justice show that sex offenders have one of the lowest recidivism rates amoung most criminals at a reconviction rate of 3.5% within three years of release from prison. Most criminals are in the 45% recidivism rates. And who is doing these sex crimes, again look to the studies; 90% of the victims know the accused very well with over 50% of them being a family member. 95% of those arrested for sexual assault have no prior arrest record. Those criminals released from prison for non sex crimes, when released commit in real numbers more sexual assaults then do released sex offenders. So maybe we need to have a Criminal Offender registry that list everyone ever arrested for anything on it, including those arrested for driving while Intoxicated. After all drunk drivers kill and injure more childern every year then do sex crimes. But sex crimes are so dam bad that is the reason we must watch those who are child molesters. But the word sex offender does not = child molester.

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