Yet more rules in the new SORNA law

This law needs to be fought. There are plenty of fees and it is obvious the intent is to circumvent previous laws that made it illegal to incarcerate individuals for being homeless.Until I can get a complete copy of the law AS PASSED, then I can't even say what other hidden rules there are. Why was the state legislature so quick to pass this bill and so quick to take it down after it was passed? Hm.

At any rate, this list is expanded from earlier reports. Once I get a full copy of the bill as passed (the final version) will post it up.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110727/ARTICLES/307279990/1011/NEWS?Title=New-rules-for-sex-offenders

Key points of 2011 Alabama sex offender law

• Repeals earlier sex offender law passed in 2005, but incorporates parts of later laws.

• Requires adult sex offenders to remain in the state sex offender registry for life but makes exceptions for some younger offenders.

• Requires offenders to report plans to be away from home address for more than three days or any out-of-state travel.

• Requires day laborers to report when and where they will be on the job each day.

• Requires adult offenders to verify registration information every three months and pay $10 fee for updating.

• Requires homeless offenders to re-register and pay $10 updating fee every seven days.

• Requires offenders defined as sexual predators or convicted of violent sexual offenses to wear a global positioning device at a cost up to $15 per day.

• Allows offender to petition court for relief from lifelong reporting requirements if the offense was a crime only because of the victim’s age (consensual sex with a minor).

• Requires offender to register with local law authorities within three days after moving to county and/or attending school in county.

• Requires offender to update information within three days with every move or change in school.

• Expands information offender must give to law enforcement to include vehicle information, telephone numbers, Internet and email addresses, palm prints, passport/immigration documents and professional licenses.

More news about the new law to take effect July 1st

It seems this new law recently passed is even worse than previously thought. The Cullman Times reports even MORE new provisions to the newest law taking effect July 1st, 2011. The Day Labor law will effectively prevent registrants from obtaining employment, as most day laborers don't even know where they will work. Who will be able to afford the fees and GPS? It is obviously a ploy to incarcerate those on the list.

http://www.cullmantimes.com/local/x1277747145/Tough-new-sex-offender-law-goes-into-effect-July-1

A few other significant changes to the sex offender law include:

• Registered sex offenders who are homeless are required to check in once a week.
• Those who do day labor must provide local law enforcement with details about where and when they will be working each day.
• Sex offenders will have to pay a $10 fee every time they register. That same fee will also be charged for every move.
• A travel permit is required through local law enforcement if a sex offender plans to be away from their residence for more than three days or if they plan to travel outside the area.
• Those sex offenders who have been classified as sexual predators or convicted of sexually violent crimes will be required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS) for 10 years, at their own expense.
• Some youthful offenders and juveniles, those charged with more serious sex crimes, will have to register for a lifetime instead of 10 years.

State's sex offender laws get tougher

No surprise since no one is fighting anything there. No one has contacted me in support of this site since it began a year ago. If you don't voice your opposition when it is in session, it is harder to fight laws after they pass.

http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_14e764b0-9798-11e0-9bc8-001cc4c002e0.html

State's sex offender laws get tougher

Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 4:47 pm

By DeWayne Patterson

Gov. Robert Bentley recently signed legislation making Alabama's existing sex offender registration laws tougher.

"They needed to be tougher," said Jackson County Sgt. Investigator Paul Smith, who oversees the county's sex offender registration. "There's some really good changes. At the same time, it's going to double everyone in the state's workload, but that's not a bad thing."

Smith said, effective July 1, sex offenders must register quarterly or four times per year rather than only twice. Previously, a sex offender moving into Alabama had seven days to register. Smith said that's been changed to immediately.

Sex offenders will now also be required to pay a $10 fee each time of registeration or transfer of residence.

Smith said the new law also changes it from a misdemeanor to a felony for a sex offender to deface or alter an identification card.

It will also be a felony to harbor, assist conceal or withhold information about a sex offender. "We've been screaming about folks hiding offenders for years," said Smith. "Now, they can be charged."

Jackson County currently has 72 adult sex offenders, according to Smith, seven of which are currently incarcerated.

It really IS all about the money-- AL SORNA

The truth comes out-- it is all about the money. That, and trying to find lame excuses to lock up people who have completed their sentences. Considering how few actually have a job due to Predator Panic, how do they expect someone who has no job to pay $250? This law is unconstitutional. Make those who want this useless info pay the fees instead. I'd refuse to pay.

http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2011/jun/02/bill-tighten-ala-sex-offender-registration-heads-b-ar-1920918/

Bill to tighten Ala. sex offender registration heads to Bentley

The bill would require weekly registration from homeless offenders.

By Alison Flowers
Published: June 02, 2011

The Alabama Senate unanimously passed measures to tighten the state's existing sex offender registration law Thursday. The bill is now headed to Governor Robert Bentley's desk for approval.

The new requirements would prohibit a sex offender who abused a sibling from living under the same roof as the person they abused. Homeless offenders would have to register weekly with law enforcement until they secure a permanent address. All offenders would have to supply extra information to be made public, under the proposed law.

But the measure that Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones says is long overdue: the $250 offender registration payment.

"Every time an individual moves, we have to notify the area where they're moving, and there's an expense involved each time."

Federal law mandates the sheriff's office track sex offenders, an endeavor that involves software and fees.

"The public wants to know, and they need to know in regard to these individuals in their neighborhoods, but it can be an expensive proposition at some point," Jones said.

AL one step closer to passing SORNA

My guess is they are more motivated by money. It is unnecessary to add more registration requirements. They must not realize it will cost them more to implement this stupid law than reject it.

http://www.wncftv.com/localnews/House-Passes-Bill-to-Stregthen-Sex-Offender-Laws-122537014.html

House Passes Bill to Strengthen Sex Offender Laws

By Morgan Hightower

Members of the Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday voted to strengthen the state’s sex offender laws, passing a bill sponsored by Rep. Blaine Galliher (R-Rainbow City) that would close loopholes in current law and require more frequent and thorough registration of sex offenders in Alabama.

House Bill 378, known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, would strengthen current law by requiring sex offenders to give local law enforcement more information when registering, including vehicle information, telephone numbers, Internet identifiers, email addresses, palm prints, travel documents and professional licensing information. Sex offenders would also have to register four times a year instead of the current requirement of two registrations per year.

Representative Galliher said updating Alabama’s sex offender laws will create better awareness of what sex offenders reside in the community, enabling the public to better protect themselves.
“Registration and notification laws protect the community and serve to deter sex offenders from future crimes,” Representative Galliher said. “Requiring more frequent and thorough registration will maintain better contact between sex offenders and law enforcement, providing police and sheriff’s offices with the tools they need to identify, monitor and track sex offenders. We’re looking out for victims, and giving our communities the resources they need in the law to keep families safe.”

The bill also closes a loophole that makes it difficult to enforce registration and notification requirements for homeless sex offenders by mandating that, until they obtain a permanent residence, homeless sex offenders must register with local law enforcement once a week. Another provision in the bill makes it a felony for a sex offender to contact or harass his or her victim.

House Bill 378 also brings Alabama up to date with federal sex offender law by ensuring that a comprehensive list of sex offenses is applicable to registration and notification requirements.

A similar bill has passed the Senate. Representative Galliher said he would work with the Senate Sponsor, Senator Cam Ward to combine the bills and ensure the strongest possible law ultimately passes.

(Information Source: Rep. Galliher's Office) 

Here is Blaine Galliher's info:

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/housebios/hd030.html

State House:	Room 519-C 11 S. Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-7674	District:	Post Office Box 4353 Gadsden, AL 35904-4353
Home Phone:	(256) 442-7517	Email:	blaine2@mindspring.com

Rep. Steve Hurst [D-Munford] has pushed legislation authorizing castration 4 years

Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, has pushed legislation authorizing castration for four long years now. However, given the political climate in Alabama, it is always worth noting. Personally politicians like him should be surgically lobotomized

http://annistonstar.com/bookmark/12644488-Local-legislator-wants-pedophiles-castrated

Local legislator wants pedophiles castrated

by Patrick McCreless
Star staff writer

04.06.11 - 03:00 am

Rep. Steve Hurst wants to protect children from p***s and sees castration of certain sex offenders as the way to do it, though at least one civil rights group disagrees with him.

Hurst, a Republican from Talladega, has proposed a bill that would require convicted child molesters to be surgically castrated under certain conditions. Specifically, the bill states that anyone more than 21 years old convicted of certain sex offenses against a child 12 years old or younger must be surgically castrated before being released from the state Department of Corrections.

“We need something to protect the children out here,” Hurst said. “They can’t protect themselves.”

Olivia Turner, executive director of the Alabama chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a Tuesday email to The Star that while Hurst’s intentions are good, he is going too far with his bill.

Turner said the castration bill is based on a false premise that sexual assault is the product of an uncontrollable sex drive.

“The reality is that sexual crimes are about violence, power and the humiliation of a survivor or victim, which is why a castrated sex offender can still be a serious danger,” Turner wrote. “The highest priority for members of the Legislature working to reduce repeat offenses by sex offenders should be an examination of the effectiveness and availability of psychological treatment for sex offenders in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections.”

Currently in Alabama, convicted pedophiles released from prison must file with the sex offender registry in the county where they will live. They are not allowed to live near schools or churches. County sheriff’s offices are required to routinely check up on the sex offenders in their jurisdiction to ensure the offenders’ addresses still correspond to what is listed in the registry.

Along with surgery, there is also the option of chemical castration, in which a male is required to take routine injections of a chemical that suppresses the amount of testosterone he produces, thereby lowering his sexual urges, said Fred Berlin, founder of the Johns Hopkins University sexual disorder clinic.

Either method has been shown to suppress sexual urges among some pedophiles, Berlin said in contrast to ACLU’s view.

“It can lower the intensity of their sexual desires,” Berlin said. “There is pretty good evidence that if you lower testosterone, you lower sex drive.”

Chemical castration has been used in other states as a means to deter pedophiles from molesting children.

Eight states currently permit chemical castration under certain circumstances, including Georgia, California, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin.

Berlin noted that different chemicals can be used to suppress the sex drives in female p****s as well.

“It’s very unusual for pedophilia to occur among women, but it does happen,” Berlin said. “There are testosterone-like hormones that are important in the sexual drive of women and there are drugs that can suppress that.”

Hurst, however, said he prefers surgical castration.

“The chemical castration, that’s fine as long as they are taking the medication, but who is to say they will continue taking it,” Hurst said.

Berlin disagreed with Hurst.

“There is really no reason to do surgical castration,” Berlin said. “The monthly chemical injections can be monitored … and one can completely reverse the surgical effects by taking testosterone.”

Berlin added that castration is not a guarantee a sex offender will not try to molest a child again, since it cannot suppress urges completely and because pedophilia can be caused by biological or mental factors.

“There is some preliminary biological evidence for causes of pedophilia,” Berlin said. “And it does appear some boys who are sexually abused can be warped in their sexual development and can develop pedophilia.”

Berlin agreed with the ACLU that psychological treatment for pedophiles was a viable option.

“There are many treatments, such as group therapy that is similar to therapy for alcoholics,” Berlin said.

Even though Republicans now control the state Legislature, Hurst could not say if the bill would pass.

“I think it will be the mood of the people, regardless of who is in control,” he said. “I’d like to pass something. If we can save one child … not to be mentally destroyed, that’s what I want to do.”

Contact staff writer Patrick McCreless at 256-235-3561.
Yes, Hurst has barked up this tree before unsuccessfully:

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090208/NEWS/902070238/1007?tc=ar

I have just released an article on Castration Laws-- Read it here:

http://www.oncefallen.com/castration.html

No one has taken him seriously... yet, but we are always one high profile case away from having this abominable law passed.

STEVE HURST

State House:	Room 627-C 11 S. Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 353-9215	District:	155 Quail Run Road Munford, AL 36268
Home Phone:	(256) 761-1935

Proposed law would tighten registration, work requirements

Great, just when I thought it would be a quiet year in AL, this crap happens: legislature to increase work restrictions from 1000 to 2000 ft and increase registration 6 months to 3 has been introduced. Blaine Galliher is the sponsor:

State House:	Room 519-C 11 S. Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-7674	District:	Post Office Box 4353 Gadsden, AL 35904-4353
Home Phone:	(256) 442-7517

Email: blaine2@mindspring.com

Be sure to focus on the Judicial committee as well. ReFORM Alabama opposes this bill in every aspect excet the "Romeo and Juliet" provision. The intent is bring Alabama more in tune with the controversial Adam Walsh Act.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110422/NEWS/110429914/-1/OPINION01?Title=Proposed-law-would-tighten-sex-offender-requirements&tc=ar

Proposed law would tighten sex offender requirements

By Lisa Rogers
Times Staff Writer

Published: Friday, April 22, 2011 at 9:27 p.m. 

Alabama already has some of the toughest laws in the United States for convicted sex offenders, but Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Rainbow City, has introduced legislation to make them even tighter.

The bill is out of committee in the House and Senate and could come up for a vote during this session.
“It brings the state into compliance with federal laws and strengthens the current law and closes some loopholes,” Galliher said.

Current sex offender laws are addressed in three or four sections of the state law's code books, but this bill places it all in one section.

“It makes it easier to read and comprehend,” Galliher said.

The law would prohibit an adult sex offender from living within 2,000 feet of the victim, rather than 1,000 feet, Galliher said.

It also adds a restriction prohibiting a sex offender from working within 2,000 feet of a school or child care facility.

It requires juveniles who commit violent offenses to follow the same guidelines as adult sex offenders and prohibits the youthful offender laws from being a factor in those cases.

Sex offenders also would be required to verify registration every three months instead of six months.
Anyone who is homeless now will be required to check in with law enforcement every week.

The new law also makes it a requirement for all convicted sex offenders, regardless of when the offense or conviction occurred, to register for the rest of their lives.

It will require sex offenders to provide more information to law enforcement and the sex offender public registry website, such as their employers, license plate numbers, vehicle information, telephone numbers, Internet identifiers and email addresses. The public registry website also will require a criminal history of all sex-related crimes.

The sex offender now must register within three days of changing or updating any information or within three days of entering a county to live, work or attend school.

There is a substantial revision for the process that determines if someone is a considered to be a sexual predator. It no longer will be based on mental issues, but on the person's prior record.

The law also prohibits sex offenders from contacting or harassing their victims.

One of the loopholes the bill addresses is requiring all sex offenders to sign a form each time they register, stating they understand their responsibility.

There also is a new provision addressing consensual sex.

If there is no more than four years' difference in the ages of the juvenile offender and victim and the sexual contact is consensual, it is at a judge's discretion to determine if the offender must register as a sex offender.

Sheriff Todd Entrekin said the tougher law is going to create more work for the sheriff's office, but that is a problem he doesn't mind.

“It will push more of the sex offenders out into the county, because the 2,000-feet requirement will make it more difficult for there to be places that sex offenders can live in the cities,” he said. “But it's worth it. Anything we can do to keep up with these sex offenders, we're going to do our part.”

Copyright © 2011 GadsdenTimes.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only.

Letter in favor of treatment exclusion to Jefferson Co. anti-clustering law

This was sent specifically to State Rep. Todd because she has spoken publicly about the need to reform sex offender laws in Alabama. Adding an exclusion to B'Ham's sex offender laws to allow Shiloni Transformation Ministries to resume housing for former offenders would be a nice start.

I'd like to ask other readers to contact State Rep. Todd- maybe she can propose a bill to allow halfway house services in Birmingham to resume. 

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/housebios/hd054.html

Dear State Representative Patricia Todd,

I am writing you today to express my concerns over the anti-clustering laws passed specifically in Jefferson County during the 2010 Legislative Session (a bill sponsored by State Senator Priscilla Dunn), and to suggest an exclusion to the bill on behalf of halfway houses, specifically the Shiloni Ministries of Birmingham. I have written you specifically because you have spoken out in the past, calling for reform and review of Alabama's policies of managing those convicted of sexual offenses.

This bill was written without regard to the benefits of Shiloni Ministries and similar programs that run reintegration services for those convicted of sex crimes (in fact, it has been said the bill was written specifically to target Shiloni Ministries). Instability on post-release life, particularly housing and employment deficiencies, is a primary factor in criminal recidivism, and in crime rates in general.

On the contrary, halfway houses and reintegration programs, much like the one offered by Shiloni Ministries, are effective measures to reduce the already low rates of recidivism among those convicted of sexual offenses. A study by the Colorado Department of Public Safety found "Shared Living Arrangements" to be a very effective for of those deemed "high-risk" sex offenders, with less overall violations and higher reporting of violations (in other words, the registrants police themselves). Places like Shiloni Ministries offer a positive support network that increases the likelihood of a successful post-release reintegration, especially during those critical first months of release, when the likelihood of recidivism is highest.

Unfortunately, Alabama has a history of supporting the "tough" on crime but not "smart" on crime policies promoted by the Troy King/ Bob Riley regime. There is ample research that many of these pos-conviction policies are more placebo than panacea. This is one area we can at least change.

Ohio has made exceptions to the residency law rule [Ohio Revised Code 2950.01(u)] that excludes treatment facilities as "residences" under the letter of the law. I am proposing a similar rule to allow Shiloni Ministries to continue its efforts to provide stable housing and social support to former offenders. (I have attached a rough draft of a similar proposal I wrote on behalf of another halfway house in California).

I am not a representative of Shiloni Transformation Ministries. I am, however, a nationally known advocate for the rights and advancement of former offenders. I am also a former offender, convicted in Alabama. I experienced the frustration of trying to find housing while incarcerated and without the help of loved ones. I had written over 60 places as far away as Oregon to no avail. I was five days away from release and facing a "Failure To Register" charge when a church ministry in Cincinnati, Ohio accepted me. I have been free since April 1, 2003. I beat the odds but it wasn't easy-- I've been homeless, denied housing and employment, harassed by self-appointed vigilantes, and forced out of a pre-approved residence. I believe in these programs because without them, the likelihood of a released prisoner being a productive citizen are significantly diminished.

2011 Legislative session

 Its a quiet year in legislature... so far.

Below is a list of 2011 Legislative Bills as of today, March 10, 2011:

HB 23: Allows expungement of records under certain circumstances
Our Stance: Support, though more expungement opportunities for those on the public registry who are arrested but acquitted or have charges dismissed.

HB 51: Increases penalty for third indecent exposure from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony
Our Stance: I'm hesitant to agree with this one because Indecent Exposure is a broad definition. Also, to make a non-contact offense the same penalty as a contact offense seems asinine.

Controversial signs on front lawn target registered person

More Alabama stupidity. Maybe I'm biased, but it seems the stupidity seems to be more concentrated in North Alabama. For once, WAFF 48 didn't put much on a negative slant on the story or name the victim of this vigilante scumbag. By the way, this clown is harassing the registrant, so he should be arrested for harassment. "Free speech" does not include harassing communications. Also, I'd like to point out that "Second Degree Rape" includes someone who had sex with a willing partner if she is between ages 12-15; I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case.

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=14191986

Controversial signs on front lawn target sex offenders

Posted: Mar 04, 2011 10:04 PM EST Updated: Mar 04, 2011 11:08 PM EST 
 By: Margo Gray

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - How far does free speech really go? Signs out in front of a Huntsville mans home is creating quite the commotion.

The signs have the power to create a traffic jam, plenty of conversation and even stir up emotion. The homemade signs on Michael Gill's front lawn in the middle of Five Points are sending a message, aimed at a neighbor. "If I didn't do anything, no one would know that rapist is living on my block across the street."

A couple days ago, Gill received a notice in the mail from Huntsville Police. A registered sex offender who was convicted of 2nd degree rape of a 15 year-old moved in a few doors down, and by law, anyone within 1000 feet is required to know. "When I get that notice, what am I supposed to do," said Gill. So he installed 24 hour camera surveillance at his home. "I agree with the man, I don't think he should be here and there is a whole lot of kids in the neighborhood," said resident Jody Price.

Not all of Gill's neighbors agree with his tactics. Many who would not go on camera said Gill is creating more of a nuisance than anything else. Some of Gill's neighbors have even reported him to police and the city over this. He's violated the noise ordinance and was forced to reduce the size of his signs. "I have to stay within the city ordinances, but that is infringing on my speech," Gill said. His neighbor, though, also has the right to live there.

WAFF spoke the man. He was convicted back in 1999 and served a year for the crime. He said he served his time, doesn't bother anyone, wants to be left alone.

Could prison policy in Alabama be changing?

Google News/ The Canadian Press reports that due to the budget shortfalls of many states, tough-on-crime policies could be changing:

Experts on national sentencing expect almost every state to adopt the new approach sooner or later — perhaps most this year because of the state fiscal crisis. The Pew Center is now working with policymakers in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas and Washington about adjusting sentencing policies. Nationally, states spend an estimated $50 billion each year in locking up criminals — four times the amount spent two decades ago and second only to Medicaid spending — according to the Pew Center. A study released by the group last year shows the amount states spent locking up inmates grew nearly 350 per cent from $11 billion in 1987 to $48 billion in 2008.

Tough on crime policies are failed experiments. They simply do not work. We need a more holistic approach, much like the one listed below:

Empty Building Reflects Empty Hearts: NIMBYism and the closing of Shady Court

 Shady Court sits empty now, a sad reminder of the emptiness of the hearts of many who judged its residents solely on label rather than character. Shady Court was home to a dozen registered sex offenders barely a year ago. Thanks in large part to residency restrictions and intolerance of sexual offenders, those who carry the stigma of “sex offender” are left with few housing options upon release from prison or after sentencing. Sex offenses can range from rape and sodomy to offenses to urinating behind a bush or even consensual relations between teenagers; in Alabama, all register for life. With the closing of Shady Court, there are even fewer housing options.

I moved to Sheffield a year ago to be closer to my fiancée (I never liked living here before but I was willing to prove my love to my fiancée). Like many of the former residents at Shady Court, I am on the Public Sex Offender Registry. I am also a nationally known advocate for the rights of former offenders, working with groups like www.sosen.org in addition to running my own advocate site www.oncefallen.com. I even received a partial pardon in 2007 as recognition of my rehabilitation.  My first order of business in Alabama was establishing a working relationship with John Starnes, owner of Shady Court.

My fiancée and I spoke with Mr. Starnes and his fiancée in September 2009. I wanted to work with Starnes because we both believe in rehabilitation. Starnes was holding meetings for sexual addiction, and cooperated with law enforcement to keep any potential troublemakers in check. We held similar goals of running halfway houses to help ex-offenders reintegrate successfully into society. Starnes had taken the vision one step further—he located a potential site for his halfway house, a quaint and isolated ranch outside the city limits, far from the complaining residents that surrounded Shady Court. Starnes was optimistic and working hard to bring his vision into reality.

By the time I had made my move to Alabama in October, everything had changed. Not long after my initial meeting with Starnes, backlash from the August 16, 2009 Times Daily article[i] shattered that optimism. Starnes and his fiancée began receiving late night telephone death threats.  The city of Sheffield’s building inspectors were under pressure to shut down the dilapidated hotel. Someone even drove around the hotel in the dead of night, noting the layout of the place while discussing bombs, and subsequently posted the “findings” on Youtube[ii]. Churches denied assistance to anyone working or living at Shady Court. Despite working with Law enforcement in the past, the police did nothing to help. No one wanted to rent from a hotel flagged as a sex offender ghetto, and eventually Shady Court closed its doors. Most of the registrants simply moved to another part of town.

By the time I ran into Starnes a few months later, the dream had died. He moved to a new location and is selling the property. I understand his frustrations. I was targeted by my fiancée’s neighbors. A local crime blogger posted a picture of my ex-wife and with the suggestion to “tattoo” my forehead. The Times Daily forums filled with personal attacks, even individuals mocking my mother’s passing. My fiancée couldn’t handle the stress and walked away. The residents claim victory on both counts. They could not be further from the truth.

In 2003, the Colorado Department of Corrections published a study[iii] which found no correlation between residency restrictions and sex crimes. Furthermore, they found “Shared Living Arrangements,” much like the arrangement at Shady Court, actually decreased recidivism among high risk offenders. On the flip side, studies found instability in life, such as denial of housing and employment, increases recidivism[iv]. What does that mean? It means Sheffield residents destroyed something beneficial to society in the name of “NIMBYism” and possibly made their streets a little less safe. Sheffield is not alone; in June 2009, Huntsville shut down the Myrick Hotel[v], and in April 2010, Jefferson County passed an anti-clustering law specifically to target a halfway house run by Shiloni Ministries[vi].

Everything you have come to believe about sex offenders is a lie. Sex crimes have more to do with relationships rather than geography[vii]. Most sex crimes are committed by someone the person knows[viii], and most sex crime arrests are of first-time offenders[ix]. Sex offenders have the lowest rate of recidivism, which can be lowered even further with treatment, rehabilitation, and support options which include stable housing and employment[x]. Very few sex offenders are “pedophiles[xi].” High-profile kidnappings are extremely tragic but thankfully extremely rare (less than 115 in a nation with over 71 million children[xii]). Every myth about sex offenders we hold fast to fuels our thirst for vengeance. The current revenge-oriented system of justice has failed to prevent sex crimes because our approach counters the only effective methods of reducing sex crimes in our country.

Shady Court was a lowly program doing the work no one was willing or able to do. We chose revenge over reason. We cried out, “Not In My Back Yard!” The issue has gone nowhere. Despite the complaints and protests of Sheffield residents[xiii], sex offenders will continue to live in Sheffield. I still live here. Life goes on.

Soon I will leave an empty apartment to return to Cincinnati, my dreams of marriage as empty as the crumbling hotel and the dreams of a program that would have made a difference. It is quite possible another sex offender will take my place. If I meet one looking for a place to live, I will highly recommend it.

---

[i] http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090816/ARTICLES/908165040/-1/LIVING05?Title=Motel-garners-cluster-of-sex-offenders

[ii] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWItx3lP8fc

[iii] http://dcj.state.co.us/odvsom/sex_offender/SO_Pdfs/FullSLAFinal.pdf

[iv] http://www.oncefallen.com/ResidenceRestrictionsFacts.html

[v] http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-myric-motel-closure-notice,0,5059254.story

[vi] http://reformalabama.blogspot.com/search/label/Anti-Clustering%20Law

[vii] http://www.nacdl.org/sl_docs.nsf/issues/SexOffender_attachments/$FILE/MN_Residence.pdf

[viii] http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/facts.htm

[ix] Jeffrey C. Sandler, Naomi J. Freeman, and Kelly M. Socia, “Does a Watched Pot Boil? A Time-Series Analysis of New York State’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Law.” Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, Vol. 14, No. 4, Nov. 2008, P. 297

[x] http://www.oncefallen.com/SOMyths.html

[xi] http://mhamic.org/sources/okami&goldberg.htm

[xii] http://hawaii.gov/ag/mcch/main/faqs/files/nismart2_overview.pdf

[xiii] http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20100425/articles/4255035

Vote for the 2010 Annual Shiitake Awards

Our favorite politician Tim "English Only" James is up for election... in the 2010 Shiitake awards! And much like the real elections, he is losing. We can change all that! Just go to http://shiitakeawards.blogspot.com/ and vote Tim James as worst politico of 2010 today!

Fox 10 Mobile on Alabama Pardon and Parole Board

This article is not exclusive to sex offenders; however, it gives a good illustration to our insane attitudes about incarceration and punishment in America.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/special_reports/special-report-pardon-and-parole

Special Report: Pardon and parole



Updated: Wednesday, 24 Nov 2010, 10:03 PM CST
Published : Wednesday, 24 Nov 2010, 10:03 PM CST
Libby Amos
Photojournalist: Robert Brown, Riccardo Montgomery


(WALA) - When prison overcrowding is so bad that early release is granted to well-behaved prisoners, and judges are told to punish with the least jail time possible, more criminals get out of jail sooner than they should.

[Comments: Alabama gives ridiculously long sentences for petty offenses, and the USA in general gives the longest prison sentences in the world on average. By "sooner than they should," they mean anything LESS than the maximum penalty]
 
The State of Alabama has the highest case load ratio of officer to parolee in the country. Once inmates are free, the state doesn't have enough parole officers to keep track of them. Cynthia Dillard heads up the Pardon and Parole Board in Montgomery. She said they catch a lot of blame for people getting out of prison and then re-offending. "When people are released from prison, everyone thinks they must be on parole. But over a third of them are getting out on a split sentence probation that's ordered by the judge, nothing to do with the parole board. Another third are getting out end of sentence neither probation or parole," Dillard explained.

[Comments: I was floored. A third of inmates do every day of their sentences! Split sentences are common in Alabama. Split sentencing is a form of determinate sentencing. For example, if you get a 10 split 3 (10/3), you do three years and the rest on probation. Notice also the caseload for parole officers, yet they still find the time to arrest someone for being unale to pay the $30 a month probation fee.]
 
Prisoners who are serving a split sentence, life without parole, or are facing the death penalty are the only ones who are not eligible for parole. Dillard said every single other inmate is guaranteed by law to be considered by the board for early release. Dillard put the parole consideration process in perspective. "Their sentences are coming up. Say, they are going to EOS (end their sentence) in two years. The board has to look at them and say, 'Now, do I really want to parole this sex offender who could get out and the next day molest another child? And have that on my conscience and have that child damaged? Or do I want to look at is as if I let this person out a year early we could get him registered as a sex offender, we could help him get established where he needs to go, making sure under condition that he not have any contact with children, that he not go certain places? And we tell him where he can work, tell him where he can live, and make it lot less likely he is going to violate another child.' That's a big decision, you know," she said.

[Comments: This is the typical mentality of society, and it is sad to see this coming from the mouths of those in charge of rehabilitating former offenders. Let Big Brother tell you where you can work and live. Every sex offender is suspected of being a threat]
 
The complications in the system only get worse. The Board of Pardon and Paroles budget has been cut by $10 million in state funding. The lack of money is forcing each officers case load to get heavier every month. But the numbers show that someone who is paroled or on probation and under strict supervision has a better chance of staying out of prison than someone who walks out end of sentence and has no contact with an officer. Thirty-eight percent of people released EOS return to prison within three years.
 
[Comments: I'd like to note that is a general recidivism rate, which means that any parolee that commits any type of crime, as opposed to a parolee who commits the same crime. A bank robber who later gets busted with a joint is a "general recidivist" but not a "specific recidivist." Yes having supervision is important but having a positive support network is better.]
 
Alabama employs fewer than 300 officers who supervise 67,000 parolees and probationers. The question is: How strict is the supervision? "Our average case load per officer right now is 196 per officer, plus they have to write these mandatory pre-sentence investigations and that's a major problem," said Dillard. "So one parole officer who is working out in the field is responsible for making sure that about 196 people are coming to him, being drug tested and have a job and are following the rules?" FOX10 asked. "Exactly. And there's usually a lot of rules. It is scary," Dillard added. Dillard said her officers do great work even against the odds.

[Comment: There is a lot of rules on parolees. Unfortuntely, POs have nearly godlike powers and can impose very strict rules]
Much like the prison system in Florida, the parole/probation arm of the corrections system in Florida is fully funded by the state. Florida law mandates that each parole officers case not exceed the range of 70-90. If that figure is exceeded, the state is responsible for providing money to hire more officers.
The American Probation Parole Association recommends no more than 70 cases per supervising officer. Once again, Alabama ranks in the highest percentile of overloaded correction systems. The problem now is too many people in the State of Alabama are on probation or parole because there is no room for them in prison. It's also a bargain for the state to keep on probation or parole. It cost about $41 a day to keep someone in prison vs $1.87 to supervise them on parole or probation.
In Mobile County alone, there are more than 500 people who are wanted for violation of their parole or probation. With the number of outstanding cases parole officers don't have enough time to track down everyone.

[Comments: Maybe if Alabama did not inarcerate people for such long periods of time, there would not be such a problem. Alabama prisons are at twice the intended capacity.]

Alabama News Roundup nov. 5, 2010 -- The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Three new news stories, courtesy of WAFF 48 in Huntsville:

THE GOOD: STATE COURT OF APPEALS STRIKES DOWN NOTIFICATION LAW AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL


http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=13453928
Associated Press - November 5, 2010 4:24 PM ET

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state appeals court says an Alabama law requiring sex offenders to give an address where they will be living before getting out of prison can't be applied to a homeless inmate with no money. Thornal Lee Adams was arrested when he couldn't give an address where he would be living after his release from a state prison in Montgomery County. He argued that he couldn't give an address 45 days before his release because he had no family to live with and he had no money to pay for an apartment. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals said applying the law to Adams is unconstitutional because he's being punished for being homeless. But the court said it does not hold that the 45-day-requirement is always unconstitutional.

GOOD NEWS: Alabama has a longtime policy of charging a sex offender with failure to register if they cannot create a home plan. Now courts are finally stepping up against this practice. Alabama needs to support more halfway houses.

THE BAD: ALBERTVILLE RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF REGISTRANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=13454700
By Stephen McLamb

ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF)- Some Albertville residents would like to see a convicted sex offender, who recently moved to their neighborhood, kicked out. But is there anything that can really be done? Albertville police say they've been getting calls from residents along East McKinney Avenue after getting flyers that a sex offender is now their neighborhood. "Basically they don't like it because he's moved into the area," said Albertville Police Sgt. Jamie Smith.

Whether it's Albertville, Guntersville, or somewhere else, Sgt. Jamie Smith says there's little anyone can do as long as the offender is in compliance. "Registering with local law enforcement, obviously they're within the distance requirements set by the law for schools and daycare," said Sgt. Smith.

While you may not be able to remove a sex offender from near your home, Sgt. Smith urges people to be aware. The best way is to use the internet to see if there is a sex offender in your neighborhood. "It will show you everyone that's registered there in the town. We've got 22 here in Albertville," said Sgt. Smith.

If you would like to know if there is a sex offender in your neighborhood, click here.

COMMENTS: This story angered me, quite frankly. It was a non-story. The good news is no one was singled out. The bad news is a bunch of liquored up rednecks will be whipped up in a frenzy over this piece of fluff. Just bad, bad journalism.

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=13448596

AND THE UGLY: STUPID HICK-TOWN SHERIFF MAKES STUPID HICK-TOWN COMMENTS

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) - How bad did Democrats in Alabama get beaten on Tuesday? To quote Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely: "Alabama Coach Nick Saban running on the Democratic ticket could not have beaten a one-legged child molester running as a Republican." Blakeley, a Democrat, survived because he had no opposition on the ballot. But The Decatur Daily reports that for the first time in Limestone County's recorded history, all local Democratic incumbents who faced opposition lost. Along with the sheriff, nine other Democrats did not have opposition and won new terms.

COMMENTS: Too bad no one legged registrant ran against Mike Blakely. Okay it was a silly copper comment but Alabama politics is like that.

Steve Hurst running on human mutilation platform

This is Steve Hurst, who is seeking a fourth term for the State House of Representatives. Like most politicos, Hurst is bringing up sex offender issues, which likely means he's probably losing in the polls to his opponent. Either that or there are more than just questions about the $85,000+ he received by PAC groups in the past month.

That in itself is not groundbreaking news. The legislation he has proposed, however, is very disturbing and for this reason, ReFORM Alabama prays this man loses his election:

http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/10112080/article-Hurst-says-he-s-not-done-yet---has-more-work-to-do?instance=home_right

One of the bills Hurst cites as most important to him in seeking another term deals with punishments for people who sexually abuse children.

“The attorney general presented a package two years ago, I think, that would have provided chemical castration for convicted sex offenders. I added an amendment calling for surgical castration. The AG asked me to remove the amendment so the federal courts didn’t strike down the whole thing, but promised me he would support me on a stand alone bill that would do just that. I want it to be tested in the federal courts. You don’t ever get in if you don’t keep knocking.”

The attorney general offered no help with the stand alone bill, but Hurst said he kept up the effort anyway.

The most recent version of the bill required life in prison for conviction of a sex crime against a child less than 12. Release would require surgical castration, which would be up to the inmate. Under Hurst’s original bill, molestation of a child under the age of six could carry the death penalty. In the version that passed the House Judiciary Committee, a sentence of life without parole was required for the rape, sodomy or sexual torture of a child under the age of 8.

“That’s the reason I want to go back,” he said.

Read more: The Daily Home - Hurst says he s not done yet has more work to do

Steve Hurst wishes not only to disobey the US Supreme Court by executing sex offenders who do not kill their victims, he wishes to castrate them as well. It is a bad thing when even Troy King, the sadistic soon-to-be-ex-AG, warns you to remove a mutilation provision of a bill. This man must NOT be re-elected!

UPDATE: Hurst won in a VERY CLOSE race with his opponent in the Nov. 2 election. Too bad.

STEVE HURST

State House:	Room 627-C 11 S. Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 353-9215	District:	155 Quail Run Road Munford, AL 36268
Home Phone:	(256) 761-1935

Trial begins for suspended Jefferson Co. Judge who "let SO off the hook"

A judge allegedly allows a man accused of a sex crime to plead to a non-sex offense so he can have a place to live, and gets dragged before the ethics board for not destroying the man's life.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/09/trial_begins_for_suspended_jef.html

Trial begins for suspended Jefferson County Judge Dan King

Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 12:46 PM     Updated: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 12:52 PM

Anita Debro -- The Birmingham News 

 

The nine-member Alabama Court of the Judiciary met for about an hour this morning in Montgomery to begin the trial of Jefferson County Circuit Judge Dan King, who was suspended in June after being hit with 16 charges of ethics violations by the state Judicial Inquiry Commission.

Opening statements began at 11 a.m. The hearing broke for lunch about noon and is expected to begin again at 1 p.m. with the presentation of testimony and evidence. 

Scheduled witnesses include: Arthur Green, the district attorney for the Bessemer division of Jefferson County; Bessemer Division Chief Assistant District Attorney Bill Veitch; Ronnie Ashford, a man whom King once represented and whose rape conviction King set aside a year ago so he could forego registering as a sex offender and move in with his mother; and Linda Ashford, the man's mother who asked King to help.

The Judicial Inquiry Commission found it improper that King set aside the rape conviction of a man he represented and for whom he negotiated a plea deal. The commission noted that Ashford's mother cared for King's son at Children's Hospital several years after Ashford was convicted.

The commission also accused King of ethics violations related to an April order in which King accused a fellow judge of succumbing to political pressure in a ruling related to electronic bingo. 

© 2010 al.com. All rights reserved.

Auburn Police given grant to harass sex offenders

The combination of hick-town policing and big brother funding leads to potentially idiotic results, especially when local hick town news reports it in a negative light:

http://www.wltz.com/news/local/Auburn-police-get-help--104896439.html

Grant helps Auburn Police buckle down on sex offenders

Christina Chambers

Story Created: Oct 13, 2010 at 4:48 PM CDT
Story Updated: Oct 13, 2010 at 6:10 PM CDT 
 

They are not allowed to live near schools, daycares, or churches, but it is easy for a registered sex offender to blend in with the community. 

[NOTE: I know of no Alabama law that bars registrants from living near churches, unless it is a local ordinance. Alabama does, however, ban registrants from living within 2000 feet of colleges.]

The Auburn Police Department received a "Child Sexual Predator Program" grant from the United States Department of Justice through their "Community Oriented Policing Services" (COPS) Office.

The grant is worth $110,500. It is designed to reduce and prevent child endangerment and protect communities from sexual predators. "The safety and well-being of our children is crucial to a healthy community and the grant will assist us in our efforts in this area," said Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson.

Auburn is the only department in the state of Alabama to receive the grant this year. Dawson said the money will be spent in investigations, education, and personnel to help with sexual abuse cases.

"This is huge, and it means a lot for our department to receive such an award," said Lieutenant Steve Woods. Woods investigates and regulates all registered sex offenders in the Auburn area. "One sex offender is one too many," said Dawson.

The Auburn Police Division was nominated for the grant by the United States Attorney's Office and the United States Marshals Service for the Middle District of Alabama.

Alabama News Round-up Sept. 2010

Not a lot happening lately but there were a few news briefs of interest this month:

http://www.decaturdaily.com/stories/area-news-in-brief,68082?

Decatur Daily: Area News in Brief 9/11/10

Sex offender faces charges

A sex offender is in Morgan County Jail faces charges of altering his criminal status on his driver’s license. Falkville Police Chief Chris Free said his officers stopped J**** D****, 52, of ****, for a traffic violation on Monday and while conducting a background check on his license, noticed he had colored over part of the license listing him as a sex offender. D** was convicted of first-degree sodomy in 1993 in Macon County for a sexual offense with a 7-year-old girl. Police charged D*** with sex offender registration violation. He remained in Morgan County Jail on Friday in lieu of $100,000 bail.

--Paul Huggins

COMMENTS: The state needs to repeal this scarlet letter law to begin with. It has served no purpose other than increasing the chances of social ostracism and vigilantism. And check out the bond set. A bit excessive, don't you think?

http://www.therandolphleader.com/articles/2010/09/22/news/118-county%20commission.txt

County gets unexpected jail expense

by Vanessa Sorrell Burnside
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 8:51 AM CDT

WEDOWEE-- Jail administrator Craig Davidson told the commission as of Oct. 1 the state will no longer do maintenance for the Live Scan fingerprint system at Randolph County Jail. County administrator Cindy Arrington said court funds cannot be used for this system; it will have to come from the jail's budget. Davidson said it is mandated they have this system for the sex offender registration and notification act. The county will have to pay for the maintenance and upgrades to be in compliance. The commission tabled any action on the fingerprint system until the new sheriff is elected.

COMMENT: Cry me a river, Randolph County. You wanted it, now pay for it! I wonder how many people realize how much it costs to have Big Brother harass area sex offenders. If they think it is bad now just wait until Alabama tries implementing the Adam Walsh Act.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/09/birmingham_crime_rate_down_ove.html

Birmingham crime rate down overall; still ranks 4th in U.S.

Published: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 5:45 AM     Updated: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 6:12 AM

Carol Robinson -- The Birmingham News

Birmingham's crime dropped in every category last year, with the number of murders reported in the city decreasing by 20 percent.  Still, despite a 10 percent drop in overall crime, the city ranked fourth nationally in overall crime because of a national downward trend in crime, according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report for 2009. In 2008, Birmingham ranked third nationally in overall crime.....  "Even though we are having a banner year in homicide reduction, there is no universal antidote or magic formula for this trend," said Birmingham Deputy Chief Herman Hinton. "Still, I believe that it's more about us expanding our community-based effort through prayer and prayer walks, along with focusing more on high-risk people such as probationers, sex offenders and outstanding felony warrants."

COMMENT: Considering sex offenders have statistically the lowest rate of re-offending by far, I'm scratching my head over the comment made by the B'ham deputy chief. Actually, all the social ostracism and harassment makes them more likely to re-offend. Idiots.

Annitston Star gives a really bad editorial -- FEAR MONGERING AMONG US

I've never understood just newspaper would print such nonsense when they refuse to print the truth or any of my editorials.

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/9592985/article-Predators-among-us?instance=home_opinion

Predators among us

by our readers

 

Moms, shut your doors and keep your kids in; the “big bad wolf” is lurking around the corner. The reality is that sex offenders are littering our country. Kids can be snatched from our front yards and become victims of a sex offender.

The “Leave it to Beaver” days are long gone, and mothers need to be aware of the ever-growing danger. It is even a risk to let our kids go alone to school. The offender knows where there is an “easy catch.” Those men are sick individuals who need regular follow-ups with officials. Kids ought to have special classes that teach them how to protect themselves.

Our children have become easy prey, and we need tough laws to protect them. Playgrounds, wooded areas and close-to-home schools should have extra security. Sexual abuse and the killings of our children have become a national cancer.

The $587 million and most costly school in the U.S. recently opened in Los Angeles. That money was wasted and could have been used to enforce better security and build more jails for outlaws.

Margit Suesser

Anniston

Read more: Anniston Star - Predators among us

HERE IS MY COMMENT TO THE ANNISTON STAR:


This has to be the worst excuse of fear mongering and blind ignorance I have ever seen in an editorial. People are always saying we see "these kinds of stories" "every day," but statistic from the NCMEC show those high profile cases are extremely rare.

We're already spending more on costly prisons and security. We treat school children like prisoners these days with random pat downs, metal detectors, and heightened security. The only "epidemic" in this country is the epidemic of fear. We fear everything from Pig Flu to Y2K and Satanic Cults in Day Cares.

Like everything else we have grown to fear in our generation, our fears are based upon media sensationalism. Nancy Grace's bread and butter are "Tot Mom" and sex abuse cases. It is interesting to note her two favorite cases on her show, the Caylee Anthony and Sandra Cantu murders, were committed by people not on any public registry.

There are a lot of problems with the public registry. It gives people such a narrow focus on a small group of people, of which only 3%-5% of them will ever commit a new sex crime (there is such a thing as "rehabilitation"). The focus is so narrow we miss the 95% of new cases that will be committed by first time offenders, i.e., people not on the registry.

It has become obvious that these laws are based more on revenge than rehabilitation. The shame game, social ostracism, and denial of second chances has failed to reduce recidivism. Yes we need more education, but you have to include topics like sexual accountability to your youth.