If you found out

[tazdev3225]

I subjected my kids to a babysitter that I found out later was abusing my DS. The offender was a female. I went to the police station and they laughed at me. You may unwittingly expose your children to sex offenders every day and not even know it. This person still lives one block over and it still infutiates me that I did nothing to protect my son and she never paid a price for her crime. I did warn someone once to be careful because he was sharing a house with her and had 2 young boys. I have also checked several websites and know that various types of offenders live in my area. My approach is just to be alert and teach my grandkids what to do in certain situations. The unknown offender is way more dangerous than the known offender.

 

[Stitchfans]

I remember in the past there was a free website to check. Couldn't find it. Haven't checked in a long time.

 

[Pooh Crew]

The unknown offender is way more dangerous than the known offender.

This is so true, but I have to share a story. I found out about a sex offender living right outside our neighborhood. A couple who lived down the street from us had recently adopted two girls and they were frequently all over the neighborhood by themselves. (Not sure on the ages of the girls, but in the 7 to 10 range.) One day when we were all outside, I just casually mentioned to the dad that there was an offender nearby and that he could check out the police dept website for more info. He looked at me like I had two heads and said, "We have chosen to NOT know that type of information!" and stormed off! Seriously? Why would he not want to know??? The girls are older now, and the sex offender has moved, but they are still all over the neighborhood by themselves and it makes me nervous for them.

And to the OP: yes, I would show my children a picture, point out the house, etc. I would stress that the consequences for talking to this person or going near his house would be steep.

 

[turkeymama]

Not to hijack the thread, but I have another situation. What would you do if you found out that you had a sex offender in your family (married into it)? Unregistered because he was convicted before the registry laws were enacted, forced to register later and that is how I found out. Then family members lied about the nature of offense and I only found out by getting copies of the public records.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Not to hijack the thread, but I have another situation. What would you do if you found out that you had a sex offender in your family (married into it)?

I wouldn't be surprised in the least. Especially on my dad's side.

 

[tink20]

We have two sex offenders near our home. I think it is good that you know about them, there are other weirdos out there, that you don't know about. My DS is only allowed to play in the backyard, which is fenced in (privacy fence). He can play out front when DH, his sister or myself are out there with him. So I haven't told him anything about these people. DD is old enough, and I tell her the cold hard facts. But DS, is young, he doesn't even know what sex is. So I checked out this video from the library. It showe kids how to deal with strangers. He loved it and watched it over and over. I think he really learned alot, but it didn't scare him. I might get is every so often, just to remind him.




http://www.thesafesidedvds.com/

 

[pixiewings71]

I would contact the local police and make sure he isn't violating any probation as to living close to children. At the same time I would warn both kids, the older one in more graphic terms, the younger one, tell him that he needs to make sure he knows never to go anywhere with the man, no matter what he might say (dog lost, new kitten, etc). And you need to make sure that you are aware of where both kids are at all times.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know how things are in Kentucky, but here you can get put on the sex offenders list for streaking at a college sports game and other minor, stupid offenses. I'd probably ignore the fact and move on with my life.

I understand there are some people on the list who have done such things (and have been prosecuted at 19 for sleeping with their 17 year old girlfriend, etc), but this specifically says sexual assault in the first degree (and I looked up what all that could entail - only one thing could possibly be somewhat "innocent") and the victim was three years old.

 

[KandD]

I understand there are some people on the list who have done such things (and have been prosecuted at 19 for sleeping with their 17 year old girlfriend, etc), but this specifically says sexual assault in the first degree (and I looked up what all that could entail - only one thing could possibly be somewhat "innocent") and the victim was three years old.

I'm really curious about this...what information can you get about the registered sex offenders on your registry? And even better can I have a link? Our registry is pretty terrible, I mean you can get the name and address as well as whatever offense the perp pleaded guilty to but it doesn't mean much since they plea bargain so often. Knowing the ages of the victims would be so much more informative than just the charge.

Just as an aside, there was a perp that was arrested the other day for failure to register on the state registry and his bond was a PTA!! Uggg.....

 

[robinb]

There is a man who lives about 1.5 blocks away who was convicted of having kiddie porn back in 2005. He lives 2 houses past one of the elementary school bus stops. I have my DD get off at another stop and showed her his picture and his house and told her to stay away from him and his house because he's a bad man.

The website is www.familywatchdog.us .

 

[turkeymama]

I'm really curious about this...what information can you get about the registered sex offenders on your registry? And even better can I have a link? Our registry is pretty terrible, I mean you can get the name and address as well as whatever offense the perp pleaded guilty to but it doesn't mean much since they plea bargain so often. Knowing the ages of the victims would be so much more informative than just the charge.

Just as an aside, there was a perp that was arrested the other day for failure to register on the state registry and his bond was a PTA!! Uggg.....

I can't speak for all states, but in my case, I called the parish courthouse that the conviction was in and spoke to a clerk there. She was nice enough to give me some vague information, but I actually had to drive there to get hard copies of court transcripts and things like that. I wouldn't normally do that in all cases, but I made an exception based on my particular circumstances.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm really curious about this...what information can you get about the registered sex offenders on your registry? And even better can I have a link? Our registry is pretty terrible, I mean you can get the name and address as well as whatever offense the perp pleaded guilty to but it doesn't mean much since they plea bargain so often. Knowing the ages of the victims would be so much more informative than just the charge.

Just as an aside, there was a perp that was arrested the other day for failure to register on the state registry and his bond was a PTA!! Uggg.....

I think most of ours lists if it's a child and the child's age or approximate age. That's it besides the name, age, address, and crime (possibly description, I can't remember).

 

[LUCiD]

There are already a lot of sexual predators close to where I live.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I knew someone who temporarily moved---but that living situation got so volatile (in-law situation) that they moved back.

Market is bad so they can't sell their house. But they are trying.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not to hijack the thread, but I have another situation. What would you do if you found out that you had a sex offender in your family (married into it)? Unregistered because he was convicted before the registry laws were enacted, forced to register later and that is how I found out. Then family members lied about the nature of offense and I only found out by getting copies of the public records.

My grandfather was an unconvicted offender.

He did things to my mother and her sisters--but she is the only one who remembers.

What is interesting is that we are all--"protected' so to speak from him. We had to watch what clothes we wore to visit him and had to learn "lady-like" behavior a little sooner than usual by watching how we sat when in the same room as him and such.

Very weird--but that is what my family did. Contact was extremely limited. But since he was a grandparent, we did end up in the same place a time or two, but NEVER unsupervised. EVER.

If it was someone who married into the family--there would be no contact what so ever. Especially since people lied about it. (that's if this was a true child sexual offender situation. Not necessarily a statuatory rape situation--depending on the age difference. I would just be careful if it was that, but not as concerned as I would be if the person sexually abused a defenseless child.)

 

[turkeymama]

My grandfather was an unconvicted offender.

He did things to my mother and her sisters--but she is the only one who remembers.

What is interesting is that we are all--"protected' so to speak from him. We had to watch what clothes we wore to visit him and had to learn "lady-like" behavior a little sooner than usual by watching how we sat when in the same room as him and such.

Very weird--but that is what my family did. Contact was extremely limited. But since he was a grandparent, we did end up in the same place a time or two, but NEVER unsupervised. EVER.

If it was someone who married into the family--there would be no contact what so ever. Especially since people lied about it. (that's if this was a true child sexual offender situation. Not necessarily a statuatory rape situation--depending on the age difference. I would just be careful if it was that, but not as concerned as I would be if the person sexually abused a defenseless child.)

I married into their family and I didn't find out about it until several years later. My husband moved away from home immediately after graduating. The offense happened after that so he didn't know about it either. We do limit contact as best we can and there is no unsupervised contact. The offense was heinous. Of course, I'm the bad DIL because the kids aren't allowed over without us. At least, that's what they tell everyone else.

To the OP, I would absolutely show a picture of the offender to your kids and point out his house. You can't be too careful with children.

 

[dismom2]

a sex offender (sexual assault in the first degree of a very young child) lived within 10 houses of your home, what would you do? Would you show his photo to your children and warn him to stay away if they see the man? Or would you just talk to them about strangers in general? Would you do something else?

I would do both, and I would watch my children like a hawk and not let them outside unsupervised. It's sad that monsters like that prevent kids from living a normal life. I just wouldn't take any chances.

 

[Nancyg56]

I warned other parents on the street (hey, it was all public knowledge, and IMO there is no punishment harsh enough for raping a 5 year old boy).

I also told my son what the guy was and was pretty specific without being vulgar. Warned my daughter too when she was old enough.

I think kids can handle knowing the truth.

We have one less than a mile away. My friend alerted us all after an officer she knows told her about him. I feel that it is important to give children enough information to protect themselves.

That a sex offender lived near me.

I could ignore some offenses, an 18 YO boy with a 16 Yo girl is not the same as a rape of a child. No way I would simply move on. I would not harass anyone but I sure would ensure that my DGD is never in a position where that offender could get anywhere near her. Ever.

I would do both, and I would watch my children like a hawk and not let them outside unsupervised. It's sad that monsters like that prevent kids from living a normal life. I just wouldn't take any chances.

When I was raising my own kids they could go out and play in the neighborhood. They came in when the street lights came on. They had a freedom that I have never given my DGD. She is never outside alone, I am always close by. She rides her bike on the street when her Pa or I am there. The younger kids in my neighborhood don't even walk to and from the bus stop alone, I see parents with them every day. That innocent childhood that most of us enjoyed is not happening for the little ones today. That little girl in Fl is just the latest baby to be lost to a freak who preys on kids, I could not live with myself if I ever had to wonder if there was a precaution that I missed

 

[robinb]

When I was raising my own kids they could go out and play in the neighborhood. They came in when the street lights came on. They had a freedom that I have never given my DGD. She is never outside alone, I am always close by. She rides her bike on the street when her Pa or I am there. The younger kids in my neighborhood don't even walk to and from the bus stop alone, I see parents with them every day. That innocent childhood that most of us enjoyed is not happening for the little ones today. That little girl in Fl is just the latest baby to be lost to a freak who preys on kids, I could not live with myself if I ever had to wonder if there was a precaution that I missed

The case of Somer Thompson is very sad . But we can't let a story like that make us live our lives in fear. Or the lives of our children and grandchildren. We need to prepare our kids for life and smothering them in a "better safe than sorry" blanket will do nothing to that end.

 

[Nancyg56]

The case of Somer Thompson is very sad . But we can't let a story like that make us live our lives in fear. Or the lives of our children and grandchildren. We need to prepare our kids for life and smothering them in a "better safe than sorry" blanket will do nothing to that end.

I don't live in fear and I can assure you that my DGD is not smothered. I believe that precautions in place are way different than living life under a blanket. DGD is always within sight of an adult. I think an 8 YO child does not need to feel smothered because she is supervised from a distance. The parents of her playmates all do the same thing. The children have all been taught stranger danger, or whatever it is called today, but kids can make mistakes, Somer broke away from her group. I'm sure her Mom had taught her to stay with the kids at all times but youngsters in a snit do not always think ahead.

There is a sex offender in our neighborhood, no maybe about it and his offense was with a child. Allowing youngsters to stand at a bus stop in front of a house where there is no one home, as is the case with both stops, is not happening around here. I never see kids there without a few parents chatting in the background. The kids just take it for granted that parents are in the vicinity when they play or when they are going to and from school. My sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee while my DGD rides her bike is not going to scar her for life. As she rides down a few houses the Mom down there is enjoying her soft drink while her DD, who is about 10, is outside.