Posted on 09/28/2009 7:35:10 AM PDT by JoeProBono
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- A small group of homeless sex offenders have set up camp in densely wooded area behind a suburban Atlanta office park, directed there by probation officers who say it's a place of last resort for those with nowhere else to go.
The nine sex offenders live in tents surrounding a makeshift fire pit in the trees behind a towering "no trespassing" sign, waiting out their probation sentences as they face numerous living restrictions under one of the nation's toughest sex offender policies...
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
William Hawkins, a convicted sex offender, leans on a tree next to his tent in an encampment of sex offenders in a wooded area of Marietta, Ga. on Sept. 23, 2009. Nine people on the sex offender registry live in the camp, saying Georgia's strict sex offender law has left them few options. The law bans sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of schools, churches parks and other spots where children gather. (AP Photo/Greg Bluestein)
Are there a lot of unowned ‘woods’ in GA, or did the author of the story not consider the ownership of the property to be relevant?
I am from GA, and our laws may be tough, but they aren’t tough enough. Not by a long shot. I know what to do with “sex offenders”...
The law should be revised to remove the idiots that solicit prostitutes and 19 year olds dumb enough to sleep with 16 year olds from the lists. THEN- for rapists and child molesters, initiate a two strike rule. Two strikes and it’s life in prison with no chance for parole.
How is it that we KNOW these dirtbags are “resistant” to any type of therapy, yet still keep releasing them? It doesn’t matter how many times they are caught, or how much time they spend in jail- they WILL offend again.
Is that banjo music I hear in the background of this story?
Do I hear pig squeals coming for somewhere?
when we were kids in that esteemed Commonweal, a guy used to come out of the woods and talk the children on their way to school. a very weird guy, needless to say. after a short period of time -- perhaps it was that winter set in -- he was gone.
But now listen -- there's something else going on here: a convicted criminal underclass being abandoned by the state. law abiding citizens might be inclined to say, "it serves them right," but a) does it? b)wouldn't it be better for society if they were incarcerated? and, finally, c) envision a time when laws change and people who, say, refuse to sign up for government [insert program] are criminalized. Creating a criminal (or social, or any other) underclass is marginalization -- and that isn't permissible in America. It's unconstitutional.
And it's unjust.
If it were me I would just let them put me back in jail. At least I would get three hots and a cot.
Camp Estermole.
Where’s Jason Voorhees when you need him?
I’m sure U of D is glad that guy is wearing their shirt.
I will say this, though, I do believe someone picked up for soliciting a prostitute, but had nothing to do with children, shouldn’t be banned from being within 1,000 feet of a school. That distance should be doubled for pedophiles, though.
I’d think a convicted drug dealer shouldn’t be near a school, though, nor should convicted gang members. Perhaps these laws should be reassessed. They intend the right thing, but, in practice, they seem improperly implemented.
they’d be welcome in hollywood, ca.
They can all live at Barney Frank’s place.
They should make a village out in the boonies for them and call it pervert town. Actually, I do believe that the sex offender laws should be limited to child molesters and rapists.
I’m amazed those tents are still there after the rains we had last week.
Or enforced.
Where’s Dirty Harry when he’s needed.
Has the state tried the Drs. Jerry Reed/Amos Moses “knock-’em-in-the-head-with-a-stump” therapy technique?
I agree. I am virulently against sexual predators being allowed to run rampant and continue to commit crimes. But I am also against this nonsense. Either keep them in prison or add common sense to the laws. This is only going to cause aggression in a group of people that is not neccessary.
As a former probation officer, we did the same thing in fl. Cheap motels, under bridges, in woods, etc. Its done because we know where they are. However, most of these folks are no danger to random citizens. The laws are reactionary to Carlie Bruccia and Jessica Lundsford. Time to find real solutions for these folks.
They can’t find anyone with the left arm off clean up to the elbow to do it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.