TresSugar

No Death Penalty, But Should Rapists Face Castration?

LibertySugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:45:43 -0700

Convicted rapists and other sex offenders now face chemical castration in Louisiana, under legislation signed on the day the US Supreme Court struck down the state's child-rape death penalty. California was the first state to subject its sex offenders to the procedure popularized by the Nazis who wanted to prevent "undesirables" from procreating.

Upon signing the law, Louisiana's governor Bobby Jindal said: "I am glad we have taken such strong measures . . . to put a stop to these monsters’ brutal acts."

On a side note, Governor Jindal is all sorts of interesting. Currently the youngest US governor, and the nation's first of Indian decent, the potential McCain VP has defended intelligent design and written about his participation in an exorcism.

Not everyone supports chemical castration like Governor Jindal. While it can reduce physical urges, critics argue, psychological counseling is needed to address mental addiction behind assaults. Do you favor sentencing sex offenders to chemical castration?

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Austrian Admits to Imprisoning/Abusing Daughter for 24 Years

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:27:08 -0700

A 73-year-old Austrian man has just confessed to imprisoning his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering her seven children, according to authorities. The head of the local criminal affairs bureau said that the man accused, "Josef F" had confessed during questioning. There's a press conference happening soon.

The woman abused is now 42, and has six surviving children fathered by her own father. Police said the woman, named Elisabeth, had told them that her father had begun sexually abusing her from the age of 11. She disappeared in August 1984 when her father Josef lured her into the cellar, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up.

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A letter in Elisabeth's handwriting arrived a month later asking them not to search for her so it was assumed she had run away. During the 24-year imprisonment, Elisabeth gave birth to seven children by her father, including twins in 1996. One of the twins died several days later because it had not received proper care. Josef's wife Rosemarie had no idea Elisabeth was being held in the basement of her house.

Elisabeth's case came to light after her eldest daughter required hospitalization, and doctors demanded to speak with her mother. Josef then released her, told his wife Elisabeth had decided to return home, and was almost immediately arrested.

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Sex Offender Must Post Signs Advertising His Crime

CitizenSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:04:09 -0700

A Kansas man who has admitted molesting a boy is under judge's orders to advertise his crime. He's been sentenced to post signs around his house and affix a decal on his car proclaiming that he is a sex offender. The hand-painted signs read, “A Sex Offender Lives Here” and cover all four sides of Leroy Schad's white house in this central Kansas town. The entire population of the town is only about 150 people. His vehicle did not escape the sentence, and has been fitted with a large decal with bold yellow lettering reading “Sex Offender In This Car.”

Schad, 72, original charge was four counts of taking indecent liberties with a 9-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy in 2005. His plea-bargain in March 2007 was to a lesser charge of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and the original charges were dismissed. The judge has ordered the signs to remain during Schad's entire sentence, which includes house arrest for five years.

Schad is appealing the sign requirement which replaced about three years behind bars. “I know that I deserve something for that, but I don't think I deserve what I got,” he said, adding, “It's been pure hell.” Schad has lived in the small town since 1971.

Is this exactly what he deserves, or unusually cruel and creative punishment?

Sex Offenders Banned From Social Networking

TresSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:15:00 -0700

No one likes the idea of sex offenders lurking around online communities. Thus, Illinois has passed a law that will make it a felony for registered sex offenders to use sites like Facebook or MySpace. One state lawmaker explained:

The idea was, if the predator is supposed to be a registered sex offender, they should keep their Internet distance as well as their physical distance.

While there's no doubt that sexual predators can use the Internet as a tool to find victims, it seems like this law could raise civil rights concerns. Do you think it should be a felony for already-convicted sex offenders to use social networking sites in an otherwise lawful manner?

Actually, whether or not there are laws making it criminal for them to log on might not make any difference. Last year, 49 state attorney generals got Facebook to agree to identify and remove profiles of all registered sex offenders.

Can I See Some ID? Sex Offenders Get Tag on Their Licenses

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:15:17 -0700

Maybe more so than other crimes, a convicted sex offender's punishment does not end with jail time served; it follows him onto the National Sex Offender Registry, onto the Internet, and soon, in Tennessee, onto his driver's license.

Starting Sept. 1, all convicted sex offenders in Tennessee must hold a newly designed license. It will bear a mark to notify police of their sex-offender status.

While I don't envision kids at the playground asking candy pushers for ID anytime soon, it wouldn't matter if they did: ID checkers will not (or should not) be able to distinguish the license from any other Tennessean's, because the mark will only be viewable to the trained eye - like a big scarlet letter written in invisible ink.

Proponents say the new law will help ensure the safety of children. If a sexual offender is pulled over, the license will prompt police to watch for signs otherwise ignored in a routine traffic stop. To see the incident behind the law, read more.

Last December, a sex offender was pulled over for a traffic violation while, unbeknownst to the officer, he carried in his car four or five boys that he lured away from a sleepover. Considering this was the impetus for the law, it does not seem unwarranted. But new labels for old crimes are hardly confined to Tennessee.

Last week, Congress unanimously passed the KIDS Act, which will require sex offenders to register email addresses and IM screen names with a government-controlled database. Well sure! That sounds like an easily monitored plan!

Does it make a difference that only cops can see the mark? Should there be a limit to how many extra punishments we tack onto a criminal after jail time is served? Will this make would-be reoffenders think twice - or just drive the speed limit?

And what about civil liberties? Is there a limit to the number that can be taken away once a societal debt has been settled? Are some crimes heinous enough to make one bear the label forever?

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Stricter Sex Offender Laws: Does a Resident Registry Work?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:00:04 -0700

California's strict sex offender law - called Jessica's Law - passed by 70 percent of voters in 2006 may not be the fix they'd hoped for. The provisions hoped to lock away more child molesters are not only not helping, but could be causing more harm.

One of the hallmarks of the law, banning sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, in some cases means entire cities are off-limits for offenders. Though intending to keep kids safe, because the number of offenders who consider themselves "transient" has risen 44 percent, the amount of offenses actually increases.

To see why this is, and how to find a map of your own neighborhood, read more.

The California Sex Offender Management Board says, "Current research concludes that suitable and stable housing for sex offenders is critical to reducing recidivism and increasing community safety." One author explains it this way: "We're locking up a small number, then releasing the rest and saying, 'Good luck, and you can't live anywhere.' "

The other sticking point, the mandate GPS system for offenders (Ireland is considering a similar plan before people even offend) hit a snag when they realized no one had passed money to buy the units.

They're hoping to fix that money issue this fall. In the meantime, you can map out your own area - does knowing make you feel more or less safe? Do strict residency measures help or hurt the cause?

Sex Offenders Get Scarlet Pumpkin for Halloween

LibertySugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:53 -0700

As part of their parole, Maryland sex offenders must display a pumpkin sign that states "No candy at this residence." Along with posting the warning sign, the violent and child-sex offenders must also stay in their homes on Halloween, keep the lights off, and not answer the door. The state has distributed warnings to families, telling them to stay away from homes with the pumpkins.

The ACLU is currently challenging an identical Missouri law, claiming the provisions are too vague to enforce and add punishment to sentences already served. While parents and the community must protect children, do you think rehabilitated sex-offenders have a right to some privacy? Does fear go too far in trampling the rights of these ex-cons, or did they give up those rights?

Huh?! Man Rapes 4-Year-Old Girl, Gets One Year in Jail

TresSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this story. David Earls, who admitted to raping a 4-year-old girl, will be released from jail after only a year. The 64-year-old man got 19 years of his 20-year sentence suspended.

The judge, who has come under fire, says that he simply followed the law by approving the plea agreed to by the district attorney, defendant, and family.

Prosecutors reasoned that it would be better to offer a plea deal and guarantee that Earls register as a sex offender than to risk losing the tough case. Because the victim was so young, they reasoned, she would have a hard time being a credible witness and articulating what happened to her. It's a cruel irony that this girl's age is making it harder to put this man away for a long time when it should make it easier.

Somebody Watching You? Peeping Toms Lurking Everywhere!

LibertySugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:00:57 -0700

Citizens all over the world are not safe from Peeping Toms. Venice police just caught a man who had photographed the backsides of over 3,000 women, as they strolled around San Marco square. The man tailed the women wearing short skirts, carrying a bag with a camera, and filming their tails through a small hole in the bag.

Apparently, the Peeping Tom wasn't who you would imagine - authorities say he is a working professional with two young children and a wife. The man faces six months to four years in prison. The Venice case might be the tip of a Peeping-Tom trend. To see who else has been sneaking around, read more.

In Canada, a 46-year-old man has evaded authorities for 14 years, enjoying his extensive library of women he videotaped through their home windows. He collected the footage in order to pursue his fantasies. Officers have only watched about 20 hours of the 90 hours of footage. Hm. Can you imagine being the officers who have to watch that creep show?

And an even more outrageous story comes right out of Charlotte, NC. Police chased a naked (gasp!) peeping Tom, and registered sex offender. When he resisted arrest, the policed stunned the man, who was wearing only tennis shoes, four times. I hope they were careful!

Do you have your own Peeping Tom story? Do these instances of voyeurism make you especially nervous now that videos can make it onto the Internet so easily? What type of sentence should be given to these serious privacy offenders?

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Speed Read! American Music Awards Go Gaga

TresSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:30:11 -0800

Didn't catch the AMAs? Here are the top 10 moments from last night's show. - BuzzSugar
Couple arrested for not paying 18 percent gratuity ($16 bucks) added to dinner bill.- Lemondrop
London thinks New York City has lost its edge. - The Frisky
The US Postal Service is canceling its letters to Santa program because one of the "Santas" was a registered sex offender. - Videogum
New Moon brought in $140.7 million this weekend. - PopSugar
Katie Couric is not immune to embarrassing Facebook photos. - Gawker
Michael Jackson's rhinestone-encrusted glove goes for $350,000 at auction. - The Daily Beast
Public support for marijuana legalization is on the rise. - Washington Post