Visit the article above, and leave a comment. Everyone should be doing this in the first place, to educate the masses. The media and politicians won't do it, it helps them get elected, to "look tough" on crime, and gets them ratings and viewers.
09/08/2011
By Alissa Irei
MISSOULA - If a registered sex offender lives next door to you, finding out is just a click away. The online Montana Sexual or Violent Offender registry allows you to search the list by name or location.
- True, but what about the murderers, gang members, drug dealers/users, abusive baby sitters, DUI offenders, and all the other criminals? If we "have a right" to know where ex-sex offenders are, then what about all other criminals?
But a new study shows that these public notification systems may make an offender more likely to commit another sexual crime, perhaps because he feels things can't get any worse.
"They are pariahs in their neighborhoods," said the paper's co-author, J.J. Prescott. "They have difficulty finding a place to live. These people have trouble finding jobs, forming relationships. You can imagine what it would be like."
Prescott is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. His co-author, Jonah E. Rockoff, is with the Columbia Business School.
The study does suggest that Megan's Law systems discourage first offenses, and that registering offenders with law enforcement – without giving the public access to the registry – decreases re-offense rates.
When Missoula police monitor offenders, they also check in to be sure they're not being harassed or targeted.
"If they are ostracized, then I do believe that does increase the risk of re-offense," said Detective Jamie Merifield. "And so we do want to make sure that they are fitting in, that they are doing OK."
The study's authors believe doing away with or limiting public notification would decrease recidivism rates, by giving offenders something to lose. Some Missoula residents say that's a good idea.
- The registry should be either deleted, or taken offline and used by police only.
"If they don't do it a second time, or haven't done it in ten or twenty years, they shouldn't have their name on there," Diana Neumiller said.
Others disagree.
"I have two grand kids that live next door to me," resident Annette Martin said. "And you know, I think it's our right to know what kind of sex offenders are out there, and where they're located in our area."
- So what gives you that right? And what about all the other criminals out there, who are more of a threat than ex-sex offenders?
