[chance33_98]

Why Megan's Law doesn't work

Was the title from the front page at the link, though I did not see it as headline in actual article.

[ChemistCat]

Oklahoma has recently dramatically improved its online listing of sex offenders. There are now photos for many offenders. It's stunning, actually, how many people are on the list. I do not believe I have ever been acquainted with any man who would rape a woman, let alone a child...but one doesn't always know, does one? (I've known some people who were a little kinky, but that's different from being willing to scar another person for life.)

http://docapp8.doc.state.ok.us/servlet/page?_pageid=190&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30

[grumple]

Here in South Carolina, we have a website...pictures, addresses, past crimes for virtually all of them (some of them do not have a photo) but you can bet your sweet bippy we know who they are. And we look at them funny we we see them walking into public places...they hate it and often wonder why they are being looked at as such...

[Mears]

They don't make it easy,do they?

Another thing,with all due respect,does anyone else wish Mark Klaas would just go away?

[dark_lord]

When people find out there's a sex offender in the neighborhood, the usual response is suspicion and prejudice, Tucker said.

Gee --- ya think so?

[MrNeutron1962]

Connecticut's on-line searchable database is a snap to use. Enter the town, get a listing.

[jimt]

Sounds like a California problem.

Here in Houston their names, addresses and photos are published in the newspapers, including the free shopping news.

There are also state and city websites, as well as crimestoppers website.

[poet]

"I have a lot of sympathy for the people being hounded for the rest of their lives," said Stephen Elrick, a senior trial lawyer with the Santa Clara County Alternate Defender Office. Elrick is representing Franklin Means, a former Burlingame building inspector accused of child molestation."

I wonder if this creep lawyer has any sympathy for the children that are stalked, raped, murdered?

What a State CA is.

[Eala]

When people check the list and don't find any offenders in their neighborhood they get a false sense of security, Tucker said.

When I was looking at some federal recidivism studies some time back I noted in passing that a bit over over half of sex offense convictions are first-time convictions.

[retrokitten]

One of the things IL actually does right is the on-line sex offender database. It's really easy to use. Just enter the city or county and it will bring up all offenders. Most have pictures and addresses. It doesn't list the exact crime, but it does say something like, "victim under 18" and I think it also lists under 13, over 18, and family member.

Several years ago we had this man working at our company. He seemed normal and by that I mean you wouldn't cross the street to get away from him. Clean cut, about 28 years old, was engaged to a pretty girl. He got fired because he got caught looking at internet porn- not once, but three times!! Right about this time is when IL put thier sex offender data base on-line. My friend had e-mailed me the address and I was looking at it one afternoon. The very last name for our county was this guy who had gotten fired for looking at porn! I called over a co-worker and she knew where he lived and verfied that it was his address. It was pretty creepy.