Walt Disney World bans sex offenders from theme parks

[robinb]

There is another thing that I find disturbing about using Sex Offender Registries for removal from Disney parks. Once an offender is on the registry they are on it for life, even after they have "done their time" and are "off paper". I don't like rapists any more than I like murderers, but a murderer can waltz right into the MK and stand right next to you in line once he or she is on probation. "Bill T. Cat! You just got out of prison for killing your ex-wife! What are you going to do?" Meanwhile, some 18 year old guy who sexted his junk to his 16-year old GF (http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/07/sexting.busts/) or someone who broke Louisiana's sodomy laws (http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96592&page=1#.UYAYZUph528) or these 2 14-year old boys who were fooling around in NJ (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/teens_sex_offenders_horseplay.html) are restricted from Disney parks because their names and addresses show up on a Sex Offender list.

I don't intend to defend sex offenders. I think that the vast majority are scum and lower than low. I just think that limiting people on a Sex Offenders registry while opening the doors to murderers, thieves, muggers, kidnappers and other felons is not right. Something has caused Disney to CYA with these new rules in August ... is the timing of Operation Cyber Child in Polk County that netted a Disney Security guard a little coincidental?
http://www.wfla.com/story/20459123/disney-employee-is-among-38-arrested-in-polk-child-sex-sting

 

[TheShea's]

I kinda wish they'd at least separate it by the different levels of sexual offense. Someone who is a level 1 for having an SO a year younger than them is clearly different from a level 3 repeat offender.

Level 1 can include all sorts of sickos.

Case in point...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...ex-offender/GPUmoigpalcftu09dKCWYK/story.html

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Level 1 can include all sorts of sickos.

Case in point...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...ex-offender/GPUmoigpalcftu09dKCWYK/story.html

I agree that there can be sickos at all levels, but I have said from the start a teen and his girlfriend having consensual sex or a kid pissing in a bush is not supposed to be on these lists. The states have been changing the rules so that is a good thing.

My wife and I did a good bit of research on the predator sites as we had a wife beater on the street..........its really quiet scary some of the stuff a person will do to other people.!

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

There is another thing that I find disturbing about using Sex Offender Registries for removal from Disney parks. Once an offender is on the registry they are on it for life, even after they have "done their time" and are "off paper". I don't like rapists any more than I like murderers, but a murderer can waltz right into the MK and stand right next to you in line once he or she is on probation. "Bill T. Cat! You just got out of prison for killing your ex-wife! What are you going to do?" Meanwhile, some 18 year old guy who sexted his junk to his 16-year old GF (http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/07/sexting.busts/) or someone who broke Louisiana's sodomy laws (http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96592&page=1#.UYAYZUph528) or these 2 14-year old boys who were fooling around in NJ (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/teens_sex_offenders_horseplay.html) are restricted from Disney parks because their names and addresses show up on a Sex Offender list.

I don't intend to defend sex offenders. I think that the vast majority are scum and lower than low. I just think that limiting people on a Sex Offenders registry while opening the doors to murderers, thieves, muggers, kidnappers and other felons is not right. Something has caused Disney to CYA with these new rules in August ... is the timing of Operation Cyber Child in Polk County that netted a Disney Security guard a little coincidental?
http://www.wfla.com/story/20459123/disney-employee-is-among-38-arrested-in-polk-child-sex-sting

So we should not try to protect our families form the predators because we cannot do anything about the murderers?

Sexual based crimes stem from a sickness within the criminal....they need it......they have to do it..........so even when they do there time. The need is still there. A serial killer/rapists are almost never released back on the street. So you are comparing apples and oranges.



Your logic is because one bad apple in some 100,000 employees was caught, you feel that extends Disney to a cover up?.........any details?..stories alleging that?


Seems they are spending one hell of a lot of money is a program that is a year old and I never heard of until now, seems not to be in the publics mind.

Sorry unless you can back that up with facts...I don't agree.

AKK

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I tried to clean this thread up from the rude, argumentative posts. Please remember to be courteous when participating on this forum.

 

[Traveliz]

I have never ever had a Disney hotel guard gate cm or check on cm ask for the ID of any more than one person in the car and it has been fine for the ID to come from any one in the car.

Loz

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I have never ever had a Disney hotel guard gate cm or check on cm ask for the ID of any more than one person in the car and it has been fine for the ID to come from any one in the car.

Loz

Never had a gate guard ask!

AKK

 

[Lewisc]

I'm still waiting for T Skipper's link documenting a FL law requiring photo ID from every guest checking into a room.

I'll retract my previous statement if he will supply documentation regarding any new policy which allows merchants to require photo ID (normal circumstances) as a requirement for customers.

 

[leeg229]

I'm still waiting for T Skipper's link documenting a FL law requiring photo ID from every guest checking into a room.

I'll retract my previous statement if he will supply documentation regarding any new policy which allows merchants to require photo ID (normal circumstances) as a requirement for customers.

I can't speak to checking into a room, but I know that when you make a merchandise purchase in WDW greater than $50 we're supposed to ask for a valid ID to check against the name on the card. Very few of us actually did. I only did when it was a rather large total. If the guest refused we were allowed to cancel the sale or we could call one of our leaders to resolve the situation. This is not law, but a disney guideline for merchandise.

 

[arthropodtodd]

So I wanted to chime in here for second as this is a field I have experience with professionally. I have spent the last 5 years working with my state's sexual offender program, working with federal sexual offenders, and community corrections sexual offenders as a licensed therapist. I am a member of ATSA (Assoc. for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers). I have worked with offenders both in prison and out prison, either on parole or probation. I have accessed some 50 individuals for courts and probation offices. So not to toot my own horn, but I know what I am talking about on this subject. I have sat with men who are truly pedophiles, I have sat with men who raped, and murdered their victims. I know my stuff.

First, the registries do not tell the whole story and these registries are what Disney, as any person, would have access to. Granted Disney can do more research and has more resources available to them, but that takes time to pull together, not something that could be done at the gate. Also, every state posts different information on their registry. Some use levels, 1, 2 or 3, some do not. Some only post the offense while others post victim information. And many states are either moving to removed certain offenses off the registries or allow people to qualify to be removed off the public registry. The Feds have tried and failed to get the states to use the same standards in classification and length on the registry. The Adam Walsh Act was supposed to make things better, but many states either did not pass it or modified it. I will skip whether public registries are worthwhile or not.

Now Disney could do the extra work to find out what really happened in each case. But that would be time consuming and something that would take more time than they use to turn these individuals away. They might look them up, but in reality they first rely on the fact that many states identify their offenders on their state IDs or driver'd license. In my state it used to be in big red letters "registered offender" but since we also register violent (murder) offenders and those who cook meth, they changed it to "RSO" in smaller red letters. For those who either are failing to register or whose state does not mark their ID, Disney probably runs names against several various lists. Ever think they get access to the persons of interest/watch lists/do not fly lists? Of course they do to some degree.

As with most all criminals, no two sex offenders are alike. There is difference between the 18 and 15 year couple (Romeo and Juliet), the doped out of their mind offenders, the angry rapist, child molesters, and pedophiles. However, sexual offenders have a lower recidivism rate than other offenders. Why? Because sexual offenders are typically required to attend treatment either in and/or out of prison and most of what they report, in terms of behavior, is varied with a polygraph. So in my state around 3 to 4% of all convicted offenders are ever re-convicted. The national average is higher, but we have been doing a good job here. Our treatment focuses on identifying their risk areas and developing a treatment plan to lower their risk in the community.

Also, most states civilly commit their worst offenders, their predators.

I suspect Disney does this for two reasons, PR and liability. I say that because statistics tell us that only 50% of all sexual offenses are ever reported. Of that 50% only around 16% of those lead to a conviction. So for every 75 they turn around, think of how many unconvicted and unreported offenders walk through those gates. Up to 25% of women and up to 15% of men were sexually abused as children. The numbers are astounding.

Now any offender who goes to Disney is kidding themselves. They do not have any concept of their actual risk or are using some though distortion, justification, minimization, etc., to make it okay to be there. Any offender who has a minor victim, should avoid certain places for at least 10 years. After 10 years the rate of re-offense drops to next to nothing. So this is a good policy, because only a dumb offender would go to Disney.

 

[arthropodtodd]

also,

every time i have check in they have asked for my ID and credit card even when you have already paid before arrival. It is about liability.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Sorry I just joined this thread and I did read through but couldn't find answer to my question. Does anyone know what the policy is for Disney CruiseLine? This is something that has always troubled me. Do they check guests for sexual offences does anyone know? Also I was thinking what about International guests. We don't print in the UK on driving licenses if somebody has such an offence far as I know.

 

[eadavis]

I'm still waiting for T Skipper's link documenting a FL law requiring photo ID from every guest checking into a room.

So having worked in hotels in Florida, that is NOT a law. We required an ID from the "lead guest" on the reservation to verify that they were who they said they were. If they couldn't provide an ID for whatever reason, they had to verify a LONG list of information.

Having sold tickets for WDW, we required an ID when guests wanted to buy tickets at a Florida Resident Discount. Granted, "ID" is a very loose term in this sense as they only had to show they had a Florida Address (think DMV-like requirements, utility bill, bank statement, etc.). Or they had to show a military ID for those discounts.

With Disney, or in any other company, they can refuse service or sale. The only people that can "ban" or trespass guests, is Law Enforcement.

If the Company wants to take a stance on preventing those with criminial backgrounds access, it is a logistical nightmare. What are they going to do, background check every guest before entry? The lines are long enough...

And then come the legal rammifications...

The first guest who gets denied entry...the Sentinel will have a picture of his kids crying on the front page...very bad PR...


Common sense people...

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry I just joined this thread and I did read through but couldn't find answer to my question. Does anyone know what the policy is for Disney CruiseLine? This is something that has always troubled me. Do they check guests for sexual offences does anyone know? Also I was thinking what about International guests. We don't print in the UK on driving licenses if somebody has such an offence far as I know.

The problem with cruise lines is with the crew. Crew members are recruited from foreign countries. There have been "issues" with crew members industry wide. I have no idea if DCL does a better job of screening then other cruise lines.

A cruise would be an expensive way for a pedophile to troll for victims as a passenger. Doesn't sound like a smart way either. Parents are likely to be relatively near.

 

[Lewisc]

So having worked in hotels in Florida, that is NOT a law. We required an ID from the "lead guest" on the reservation to verify that they were who they said they were. If they couldn't provide an ID for whatever reason, they had to verify a LONG list of information.0

Common sense people...

T Skipper insisted there is such a law. Requested I use google to prove there isn't such a law.

I'm still asking him to provide a link.

I'm not doubting the information you posted but T Skipper seems to be convinced he's right. I'm giving him a chance to prove us wrong.

 

[tjkraz]

I suspect Disney does this for two reasons, PR and liability.

Interesting thing is, this only came to light as a result of a local news report. Disney issued 75 warnings in 2012...and didn't bring any attention to the fact. And when asked about it, they declined to comment.

So they don't seem to be bending over backward to exploit this as a PR move.

At the end of the day, I really don't care what their motivation might be.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

The problem with cruise lines is with the crew. Crew members are recruited from foreign countries. There have been "issues" with crew members industry wide. I have no idea if DCL does a better job of screening then other cruise lines.

A cruise would be an expensive way for a pedophile to troll for victims as a passenger. Doesn't sound like a smart way either. Parents are likely to be relatively near.

Yes these are good points. Thank you.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I am amazed how I am *required* to prove to anyone what I know form experience. Anyone else interested in looking it up themselves is welcome to.

I point here is that this is a good start to protect our families and kids from predators.

Disney as the names and addresses of AP holders, resort guests and 50 states with predators online to check for predators. It is not 100%, there are ways around it, but its a start.

To sit back and say don't do anything because its not 100% is silly and dangerous.

To say because the online predators sites are not perfect with a very few states having silly rules about teens and pissing in bush's,(which are slowly being changed) we should not use them and not do anything is equally silly.

As time goes on and techno and laws get better, the policy will work better.

However I would much rather Disney continue and protect guests as much as possible and then throw there hands in the air and do nothing.


I would also point out that Disney can ban anyone at anytime, they simply call law enforcement and press charges. I really don't see much sympathy for a predator/sex offender being kept out of Disney. If anything most people will applaud and a PR plus.


Disney as at last report kept 75 + sex predators out of the parks.......not one complaint, no news paper saying let them in! A predator/sex offender bringing his family and getting caught and refused entry, has no one but himself to blame. The kids should have been brought by the spouse or other person.

AKK

 

[robinb]

So I wanted to chime in here for second as this is a field I have experience with professionally. I have spent the last 5 years working with my state's sexual offender program, working with federal sexual offenders, and community corrections sexual offenders as a licensed therapist. I am a member of ATSA (Assoc. for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers). I have worked with offenders both in prison and out prison, either on parole or probation. I have accessed some 50 individuals for courts and probation offices. So not to toot my own horn, but I know what I am talking about on this subject. I have sat with men who are truly pedophiles, I have sat with men who raped, and murdered their victims. I know my stuff.

First, the registries do not tell the whole story and these registries are what Disney, as any person, would have access to. Granted Disney can do more research and has more resources available to them, but that takes time to pull together, not something that could be done at the gate. Also, every state posts different information on their registry. Some use levels, 1, 2 or 3, some do not. Some only post the offense while others post victim information. And many states are either moving to removed certain offenses off the registries or allow people to qualify to be removed off the public registry. The Feds have tried and failed to get the states to use the same standards in classification and length on the registry. The Adam Walsh Act was supposed to make things better, but many states either did not pass it or modified it. I will skip whether public registries are worthwhile or not.

Now Disney could do the extra work to find out what really happened in each case. But that would be time consuming and something that would take more time than they use to turn these individuals away. They might look them up, but in reality they first rely on the fact that many states identify their offenders on their state IDs or driver'd license. In my state it used to be in big red letters "registered offender" but since we also register violent (murder) offenders and those who cook meth, they changed it to "RSO" in smaller red letters. For those who either are failing to register or whose state does not mark their ID, Disney probably runs names against several various lists. Ever think they get access to the persons of interest/watch lists/do not fly lists? Of course they do to some degree.

As with most all criminals, no two sex offenders are alike. There is difference between the 18 and 15 year couple (Romeo and Juliet), the doped out of their mind offenders, the angry rapist, child molesters, and pedophiles. However, sexual offenders have a lower recidivism rate than other offenders. Why? Because sexual offenders are typically required to attend treatment either in and/or out of prison and most of what they report, in terms of behavior, is varied with a polygraph. So in my state around 3 to 4% of all convicted offenders are ever re-convicted. The national average is higher, but we have been doing a good job here. Our treatment focuses on identifying their risk areas and developing a treatment plan to lower their risk in the community.

Also, most states civilly commit their worst offenders, their predators.

I suspect Disney does this for two reasons, PR and liability. I say that because statistics tell us that only 50% of all sexual offenses are ever reported. Of that 50% only around 16% of those lead to a conviction. So for every 75 they turn around, think of how many unconvicted and unreported offenders walk through those gates. Up to 25% of women and up to 15% of men were sexually abused as children. The numbers are astounding.

Now any offender who goes to Disney is kidding themselves. They do not have any concept of their actual risk or are using some though distortion, justification, minimization, etc., to make it okay to be there. Any offender who has a minor victim, should avoid certain places for at least 10 years. After 10 years the rate of re-offense drops to next to nothing. So this is a good policy, because only a dumb offender would go to Disney.

Thank you Todd for your well thought out and well written reply. You certainly do sound like you know what you are talking about . I do have a question about the end of your post:

Now any offender who goes to Disney is kidding themselves. They do not have any concept of their actual risk or are using some though distortion, justification, minimization, etc., to make it okay to be there. Any offender who has a minor victim, should avoid certain places for at least 10 years. After 10 years the rate of re-offense drops to next to nothing. So this is a good policy, because only a dumb offender would go to Disney.

it sounds like an offender with a minor victim should be precluded from going to a place with many children (like a theme park) by his/her terms of probation. I would assume that if they violate terms of probation (and go to WDW) they will go to jail. Is that true? If so, I am all for that! However, I am confused about applying the same standard to violators without minor victims. Are you saying that its' not OK for them to go to a theme park, or do you think there should be a more general restriction that covers all places with many people gather (theme parks, concerts, festivals, etc)? I guess I'm trying to figure out the difference between WDW and say ... Summerfest in Milwaukee.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yes these are good points. Thank you.

The cruise line problem is not with the crews. There have been very few problems. Just because a CM comes from a foreign country, doesn't means they are not vetted and checked. It is 100% perfect.......no!

The real problem would be the passengers, and there have been a problems here.

The big advantage is every passenger has to be ID'ed and vetted. So their history is easy to discover.

Now do lines check?? , are some predators refused boarding??, this I do not know, but I would hope they are.


AKK