Thanks to RainMan for the ping.
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
Posted on 04/30/2008 9:09:27 AM PDT by XR7
SNOHOMISH — The patch under the bridge is closed in by brambles. Rodent tracks crisscross in the dirt. It may be dry, but still it's not fit for human habitation.
Unless you're a sex offender, that is.The underside of the 88th Street bridge, near this river town's greenhouses and horse farms, is where state government last week assigned a released rapist to sleep.
David J. Torrence, who assaulted a 16-year-old girl in 1995, had completed his latest prison term (for failing to register as a sex offender.) He had no place to go. So officials gave him a sleeping bag and a rain poncho, then told him to stay under this bridge, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., until further notice.
"We're not proud of it," says Mary Rehberg, parole officer for the state Department of Corrections. "We did it because this is what it has come to. Under a bridge is the best of the options we had left."
That we're now storing sex offenders under bridges is hardly the worst thing to happen in the long struggle over sex crimes. Not compared with what happened to the victims.
But it is a sign of a looming breakdown. There's got to be a better way.
Nobody wants sex offenders around. It can be infuriating to see taxes spent on their treatment or care. But putting them under bridges, like trolls? Set aside whether that's inhuman. It's about the worst outcome possible, for public safety.
Torrence was released from state prison at Monroe on April 20. He is a Level 3 — high risk for reoffending. He is not deemed so dangerous, or his crimes so serious, that he qualifies to be locked up longer.
Rehberg tried for months to find him a place to live.
He's barred by local ordinance...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Hoist a drink or two for me when you get together! Sure do miss my Texas Freeper family!
The thugs met and made their plans at the group home. There is no supervision in these homes, except to make sure they see their probation officers, and we all know how effective that is.
BTW, sex offenders frequently live in groups, often at the home of the mother of one of them, or in a house that one of them owns. If you check, you will find that a large number the high profile sex-and-torture-and-murder types have lived in group homes or defacto group homes (that is, clusters of sex offenders). Of course, when one of them goes off the rails, the others all come out and say it was such a pity, they would never have done such a thing, etc. But that’s only because they didn’t have the opportunity.
If jails are too crowded to hold them, build more jails. Or do the best thing of all, which is put them to death. No recidivism. No other woman or child or even man will be raped, tortured or killed by them after that.
I agree with you. And I know about the cluster style of living from checking my own surrounding neighborhood which, although we live in a ‘desirable’ area, has some 200+ registered offenders within a very short radius.
I’m all for more jails. We can knock off the entitlements and use the surplus to fund them. And we’ll need to, once they quit getting their freebees. Because, I hate to say it, but the truth is that they make up a greater portion of the wrong-doers than the rest of us sucking air on this planet.
Some states make it illegal for offenders to live together unless they are in a monitored group home facility.
We miss you too! And you did a fine job on the CCW! I’ll get there too, someday!
I know you will! I’m proud of you for getting over your fear that day...you will do just fine when you manage to take the class!
I think I’m going to be in Austin...Got a beer-ball tournament for Mr. Legs.
What’s beer ball?
A softball tournament...Over Cinco De Mayo...sponsored by Coors.
Have fun! I hope he wins!
Thanks; in tournaments like these, everybody wins. :-P
So, you took a CHL class?
Not yet. Have to get a gun, first.
Hanging from the bridge by a noose, sans ‘nads, would be a better solution
"At least we could check on him," she said. "We could keep trying to find him a place. I'm sorry to say it, but it was the best we had to offer."
On the fourth night, he cut off his monitor and fled. So far he hasn't been found.
Don't worry, he'll turn up... or at least his next victims will.. sooner or later.
Build a town in the middle of the dessert, at least 100 miles from anything else, and let em live there.
“Wanted...alive or dead...reward offered”
THAT would bring me out of retirement.
Happy hunting!!! :~D
Wish they would...fewer SOs would go on the lam if they knew they would be hunted for the reward!
FYI...We have been to your park on one of our trips....we loved it.
“There’s got to be a better way. . . Nobody wants sex offenders around.”
Yes, there is a better way. Zip him into the sleeping bag and put him at the very top of the bridge.
Mesa Verde is my all time favorite tourist spot! I worked for the Museum Association for several years. I always enjoyed talking with the visitors about the park...I read everything that came into the bookstore about the park so I could share with the visitor.
I don’t live in Colorado anymore, I moved to MN back in October. I am VERY happy with the move!
Thanks to RainMan for the ping.
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
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.