Residents are not being fooled by the government, they are being fooled by politicians (and vice versa). The government includes federal, state, and local expert entities ranging from the the U.S. Department of Justice (BJA, BJS, NSOPW) and its near endless research and materials shedding light on this complex issue. For example, crime data in many forms emphasize the vast majority of victims of sex offenders know their assailants. Continuing research supports treatment for juvenile sex offenders (who comprise over one-half of child sex offenders). Hundreds of state, local, and national entities cooperate with one another in proposing informed approaches and smart sentencing proven to reduce recidivism including successful re-entry and community supervision.

On the other hand, politicians need to get through primaries and pander to fear and “feel-good” legislation. Extremism and finger pointing often rule the day. This is, in turn, further fed by the masses who form opinions from hate radio, television fiction, and so on.

Once again, the “government” (the hated bureaucracy) continues to seek facts and evaluate outcomes. Hopefully, party politics and divisiveness stop the contest of who can be tougher on criminals even if it is actually compromising public safety. For over 25 years, I have directed state justice commissions, joined panels of experts in numerous fields, and tried to start and maintain momentum based on empirical evidence. Over and over again, the elected officials, especially the legislative branch, cut off our noses to spite our face.

Nonetheless, there is, fortunately, progress. We as a nation have learned much and hopefully we will continue based upon evidence rather than emotion and scare tactics from extremists.

Emil,

real facts don’t tickle our ears like the padded ones do. We all love to be scared, that’s why we watch horror movies, ride insane roller coasters, or even watch the local news. If we are living life on the edge of our seats we aren’t having fun. So when people hear of an ex-offender moving in next door, our adrenaline starts to pump and we have to act (because haven’t you heard? sex offenders have the highest recidivism rates, you can check your local supermarkets copy of the national enquirer for the best stats.) When people start to believe the stranger danger lie they tend to not read the facts about how the sex offender knows the child personally and that’s when things go bad. Parents are being fooled by the government into thinking that by having residency restrictions they are protecting their children, but in all actuality the offender could be living with them. Their family must be the 7% of people who don’t offend.

I have said this all along. Until it becomes personal, these a*#$@$! will continue to ride the wave along until their 401K becomes padded with greenbacks. Mark Foley, Larry Craig and others are a case in point. Hypocrites need to be exposed. The old saying that we all learned in elementary school “whoever smelt it dealt it” applies here.

Of course they know the truth. Lawmakers aren’t stupid. They hear the facts and evidence, they just don’t care. They have more to gain politically and financially by ignoring the facts.

The sex offender registry is a business and they will continue to use it for as long as it is working for them.

Denial is a tough nut to crack.

I would say then take the 93% data that is well known and referenced today about someone close offending and turn it on the politician. Include the politician in the stat and say they, someone they know or love could be in the 93% and show them distances don’t matter. They will politically reply, “If we stop one for the children, then we’ve done our job.” In turn you say, “If one then who offends is within this residency restriction and is in the 93%, does that justify the residency restriction in the end anyway?” They will most likely ignore the comment and possibly say something about them and theirs being in the 7% with some justification behind that. However, you have to believe in the end, they will do the same as the concerned parent “expert” (or be a concerned parent if they are one) and start to question these actions about those near and around them. If you make them feel how it could impact them, then they will start to realize the impact. NIMBYism will only go so far until they feel it becomes personal…..

Tell a concerned parent in a public forum (with referenced material) they are possibly in the 93% who will offend. Watch their reaction, the crowd’s reaction and the council’s reaction. Then tell them if not them, then a spouse/partner, near family member or close friend/neighbor could be in the 93% regardless of the residency restriction from wherever they live. Let them say they are in the remaining 7% and so is everyone else they have in contact with their offspring.

Let them learn about this 93% to put the seed of doubt in their mind about who they know, really know and whether the children are safe regardless of the school, daycare, church, park, etc distance from these people. They will possibly start to question in a state of possible fear and will watch their children even closer. Maybe they will finally grasp the overall concept here about stranger danger and learn it could be closer to home than that, much closer… maybe even as close as the person they are living with or next to.

Let them as an “expert” know this.

(I just have to say this reminds of the old adage about more accidents happen at home more than anywhere else. It is true based upon statistics. Just goes to show the applicability of the 93% being within the home (or inner circle of people if you like))

Lol!!! Fred, I love you man. You are correct. Law makers don’t give S%$# about having or getting an expert’s opinion about this. Having the facts, statistics, emperical evidence based on sound research and study. Hell no. Then they would have face the truth and start rolling back this crap. I’ll tell you something else, I believe there are law makers who know the truth, i.e., that sex offender laws are not only unconstitutional [ Ex Post Facto, Due Process, Equal Protection] but also—just out wrong but they deny their conscience and bend to the will of the A%# holes who want these laws in place—anyway. But as anyone knows, it will take the US Supreme Court to strick down Adam Walsh, Magan’s Law, & Jocob Wetterling to end this crap. But hey, in order for that to happen you will need REAL MEN (which you don’t have currently) on the bench not afraid to apply the US Constitution to this issue.

But siding with a sex offender is political suicide…