Posted on 11/20/2011 7:28:42 PM PST by Morgana
RICHMOND, Va. — Having already served their sentences, hundreds of Virginia sex offenders are held behind bars for months — some for years — while waiting to see whether they'll be sent to a psychiatric center indefinitely, an Associated Press review has found.
Judges acting on the requests of both prosecutors and defense attorneys routinely shrug off the legal deadline for making that decision, leaving the inmates in limbo well beyond their designated punishment and without access to the very kind of treatment the state says they may need.
Attorneys and authorities blame the delays on court backlogs and note that in some cases, the postponements benefit the inmates.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
in some cases, the postponements benefit the inmates.
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No comment.
Why are there hundreds of sex offenders in Virginia anyway?
For example, John Hinckley can only be confined to the psych hospital as long as he is judged to be potentially dangerous. In fact, the chance of him trying to shoot someone else at this point, is vanishingly small--if the law were applied strictly he would be released by now.
The problem with sex offenders is, after they have served their sentence, they should be released, like any other offender.
Except, society has such revulsion at their offense and the prognosis for recidivism, that the question arises of prior restraint--keeping them confined to prevent a future crime. This is a very tricky area for those who value the rights even of noxious people.
I'm sure I can predict all the knee jerk responses, but the more mature will recognize the dilemma of incarcerating someone for a crime he has not (yet) committed.
I think the real dilemma here is that sentencing is too light for true sexual predators.
>>>>the more mature will recognize the dilemma of incarcerating someone for a crime he has not (yet) committed. <<<<
The only problem I see is that they didn’t receive life incarceration to begin with. Sex offenders are always repeat offenders.
Always.
Not really. Slap an ankle bracelet on them and subject them to chemical castration. Seems like a fairly easy solution. If they ditch the bracelet, then physically castrate them. I think it could work.
They’d end up living under bridges anyway.
No there isn't. What is this "Constitution" you speak of??? You some kind of liberal????
That document you refer to has been killed by both parties. String up the infidels! Yahoo!
Bingo.
“the chance of him trying to shoot someone else at this point is vanishingly small”
Yeah, because he can’t legally own a gun.
Lesson to be learned from this: Don’t commit sex crimes in the Commonwealth. ‘Nuff said.
Because everything is a sex crime, can’t so much as whistle at a hot chick anymore without it being called a sex crime.
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