Locking up pedophiles on Halloween

[Chuck S]

But then, I am of the mindset, once a perv always a perv and they never should have been let out in the first place.

But here's the problem I have with it...insert any other terrible crime...once a drunk driver, always a drunk driver...once a murderer always a murderer...once a wife beater always wife beater...

But none of these folks are routinely monitored once they complete their sentence, drunks are not prohibited from drinking, other convicted felons do not have their names and address published in newspapers.

What about if a sex offender moves across the street from you? That has happened to me (I have no children), I've done nothing wrong, but the money I've invested in my house has lost about a 20% resale value...I'm basically being financially punished for someone elses crime.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I like the idea! Wish they would do it here.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

But, pedophiles have the highest repeat offender rate of any crime. Problem is, they LIKE what they do! I have no problem with a law like this--personally, I think that, as a society, we've long been too easy on criminals who prey on children. The typical child molester has 200-300 victims! You can't tell me the typical criminal comes anywhere near that.

While I understand the whole "liberties" point of view, I respectfully disagree-we're talking about convicted felons here, not every person or those who have been accused and been cleared (or not stood trial yet--innocent until proven guilty). If there aren't laws that prevent a CONVICTED child molester from ever being around kids, there should be--all the time, not just on Halloween (when the pickings are easy).

 

[dis ms.]

While I agree that parents should watch their children while trick or treating - if they don't - it's the children who suffer. I'd have a hard time telling an assaulted child "well your parents shouldn't have let you go out alone".

Which is what that argument boils down to. I see no point in punishing a child for his parents' mistake,

Well said. I'm more concerned about a child's right to have a childhood that doesn't include molestation than I am about a pervert's right to be free on Halloween.

In a perfect world, every parent would watch their own child(ren) during trick or treating. In our world, that doesn't always happen. Our society has a responsibility to protect children--either in conjunction with the parental supervision or as a fail-safe when that supervision is lacking.

What about if a sex offender moves across the street from you? That has happened to me (I have no children), I've done nothing wrong, but the money I've invested in my house has lost about a 20% resale value...I'm basically being financially punished for someone elses crime.

As a mom, I care more about parents being aware of a potential danger to their child(ren) than whether or not someone will get the resale value they wanted on their house.

 

[Chuck S]

The typical child molester has 200-300 victims!

I'd be interested to know how anyone actually compiled those figures and scientifically verified them.

 

[Chuck S]

As a mom, I care more about parents being aware of a potential danger to their child(ren) than whether or not someone will get the resale value they wanted on their house.

So, law abiding citizens should just happily accept that a child molester has freely chosen to across from them and it cost them $10,000+. Perhaps you'd like it if it was removed from your bank account?

 

[Stitchfans]

Couldn't agree more. Wish everyone would do that. Such a great idea! Whatever it takes to make our children safe.

 

[dis ms.]

So, law abiding citizens should just happily accept that a child molester has freely chosen to across from them and it cost them $10,000+. Perhaps you'd like it if it was removed from your bank account?

Hold on a minute. Let me check if that argument has changed my mind...Nope, I still care more about my child than your $10,000.

And, FWIW, I live by an elementary school and a public park. It's illegal here for a sex offender to live within a certain number of miles from schools and parks. So, I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Chuck S]

Hold on a minute. Let me check if that argument has changed my mind...Nope, I still care more about my child than your $10,000.

And, FWIW, I live by an elementary school and a public park. It's illegal here for a sex offender to live within a certain number of miles from schools and parks. So, I don't have to worry about it.

So, it isn't your problem but should be other folks problems, even though they've done nothing wrong?

 

[MamaLema]

Heck, for all we know, they make it a fun night for the pedophiles. Maybe they show a movie (Jailhouse Rock, perhaps), pop some popcorn, do Karaoke.

You might not be that far off.

Here in Toronto, 9 convicted criminals (of serious offences, like rape) were given day passes from the jail to the amusement park in the busiest time of the year

DH has some family members that work in the biggest jail in our city. When I hear the stories they tell, jail is a joke.

 

[dcentity2000]

But, pedophiles have the highest repeat offender rate of any crime. Problem is, they LIKE what they do! I have no problem with a law like this--personally, I think that, as a society, we've long been too easy on criminals who prey on children. The typical child molester has 200-300 victims! You can't tell me the typical criminal comes anywhere near that.

While I understand the whole "liberties" point of view, I respectfully disagree-we're talking about convicted felons here, not every person or those who have been accused and been cleared (or not stood trial yet--innocent until proven guilty). If there aren't laws that prevent a CONVICTED child molester from ever being around kids, there should be--all the time, not just on Halloween (when the pickings are easy).

Wow - are you sure? Quite a sizeable segment of the population suffers from pædophillia - more than you'd think - and I think it's unlikely that they each have several hundred victims.

[EDIT] If true, that's a horrific statistic!

Just for the record, there are pædophiles who never assault a child and who hate their condition. Typically they don't seek help either due to the associated hostilities. The condition is treatable with cognitive psychotherapy, among other things.

I think we need to separate the state of pædophillia from the crime of child assault.



Rich::

 

[charabby]

I don't think it would do any good - locking sex offenders up on Halloween - and leads to a false sense of security. Unless it's common for sex offenders to molest children during the five seconds kids are at the door, which I doubt. They's have to invite the lone child in - and which kids are TorTing alone? Offenses against children are far more likely to occur under much less public circumstances than Halloween night. Besides, what you need to worry about as a parent are the sex offenders who have NOT been convicted - the ones you don't know about - the ones that aren't registered. You and your child should exercise caution at all times. Doing otherwise increases their vulnerabilty.

 

[dis ms.]

So, it isn't your problem but should be other folks problems, even though they've done nothing wrong?

You don't have kids, so the risk of child molestation isn't your problem. So, other people's children should be put at risk even though they've done nothing wrong? Just so your resale value isn't adversely effected?

 

[Chuck S]

How is it putting others children at risk? Shouldn't parents be responsible enough to know where their children are? Because some parents are lousy parents I should happily lose resale value on my home?

BTW, I'm the only person in the neighborhood without kids, so all of them have lost equity that could help pay tuition and stuff for their children, that adversely affects their children, even though they have done nothing improper...they all lived here prior to his conviction.

 

[dis ms.]

I don't think it would do any good - locking sex offenders up on Halloween - and leads to a false sense of security. Unless it's common for sex offenders to molest children during the five seconds kids are at the door, which I doubt. They's have to invite the lone child in - and which kids are TorTing alone? Offenses against children are far more likely to occur under much less public circumstances than Halloween night. Besides, what you need to worry about as a parent are the sex offenders who have NOT been convicted - the ones you don't know about - the ones that aren't registered. You and your child should exercise caution at all times. Doing otherwise increases their vulnerabilty.

First, I don't think any good parent has a false sense of security about the potential for child molestation.

Second, molestation doesn't just occur in someone's house. There are many clandestine places to take a child outside. They don't have to invite the child in.

Third, as parents, we need to worry about sex offenders that have been convicted AND the ones that have yet to be caught. No one is less dangerous than the other. It just means we parents have to be on our toes (but every little bit of assistance from society helps!)

And I agree, we should exercise caution at all times.

 

[Mickey76]

Here's my problem, if any of you care:

Once a pedophile, always a pedophile. Asking a pedophile not to like children anymore is like asking a homosexual not to like the same gender anymore or a heterosexual person not to like other heterosexual people. I don't care that people say that a pedophile can be "cured." I don't believe it at all. Somewhere, deep in the recesses of their mind, they still fancy children, and it disgusts me. They don't deserve a second chance. I've read way too many articles and seen too many newscasts about a pedophile who breaks the rules of their probation by ruining a child's life-AGAIN!!!!! Rights???? Rights???? You have got to be kidding me!?!? I don't care if they are human. The only right they have is to die. The sooner, the better...

 

[dis ms.]

Chuck S, I think we should agree to disagree. I mean, I'm always going to be more concerned about my child, and I guess you're always going to be more concerned about your $10,000.

Now, I'm off to my son's football game. Carry on, everyone!

 

[charabby]

First, I don't think any good parent has a false sense of security about the potential for child molestation.

Second, molestation doesn't just occur in someone's house. There are many clandestine places to take a child outside. They don't have to invite the child in.

Third, as parents, we need to worry about sex offenders that have been convicted AND the ones that have yet to be caught. No one is less dangerous than the other. It just means we parents have to be on our toes (but every little bit of assistance from society helps!)

And I agree, we should exercise caution at all times.

Are there instances of child molestation on Halloween night? I'm just not seeing the opportunity. Halloween night is one of the *only* nights of the year when there are dozens of people walking around at night. I just think the only purpose of locking up pedophiles on Halloween is to make people feel better - it offers no real protection b/c the as yet undiscovered offenders are still out there.

 

[phillybeth]

They can't be locked up forever (unless serving a life sentence).
Why don't we ask parents to actually watch their children while trick or treating. Is that such a foreign concept?

ITA. Parents need to take some responsibility, not just let the State take care of their kids.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

law and opinion are 2 different things. The law does not say they don't get a second chance, get locked up forever etc. Once they serve their time, and are abiding by their probation etc, it is, IMHO a violation of their rights to lock them up without cause.
Like I said before, I understand the emotion behind it. However I think to lock them up on halloween wihtout cause, is dangerous teritory for everyones basic rights.

Do you also object to having them register as a sex offender?