Homeless sex offenders tracked by satellite

[superconnected]

Source: KOMO 4 news

A spy in the sky is keeping track of the riskiest sex offenders. Satellite tracking is monitoring their every step.

"Looking at the terrain, I'm guessing he's sleeping on that hillside," says Jeff Haberman, a community corrections officer, as he watches a homeless sex offender move around town in 'real time.'

The sex offender has a global positioning system (GPS) device strapped to his ankle.


"And starting this month all Level-3 sex offenders, the most serious kind, are getting a GPS for the first 30 days after they're released from prison, whether or not they provide a home address."

Read more: http://www.komonews.com/news/33668714.html

---

Good news that they're doing this to sex offenders but it should be longer than 30 days - more like 2 years because that's long enough to send nearly all back to prison for repeating the crime.

I think they should do this to people arrested for gang violence, car thieves, and people arrested for identity theft too.

And yes, I know it's a slippery slope on how far they go to use this to the point everyone is tracked.

[Book Lover]

1. I am curious

why you listed those three offenses specifically.

[Posteritatis]

40. Going apewire on any of those three would play really well on the news (nt)

[amdezurik]

2. keep on going that way

and wait till you get one for a parking ticket...

[SAG]

3. Not a bad idea, BUT

...it's hard to make the argument they're rehabilitated if we see fit to track them with GPS. The real dangers should still be incarcerated, negating the need for big brother's satellite and with it the real possibility of that slippery slope.

[Alexander]

4. So if someone pisses in a back alley and is charged with a sex offense, we should track them?

:eyes:

Why not just punish the ones who re-offend and leave the others alone?

[davidinalameda]

6. you want to wait until they commit another crime?

why?

[TalkingDog]

12. Because a few hundred years of human rights and legal precident

suggest a person is innocent until proven guilty?

Because the "sex offenders" system is so totally screwed up that a consensual relationship between an 18 year old boy and a 17 year old girl can land the boy in prison for 20 years.

Because the reason a large number of kids join gangs is that schools, parents and social systems are failing them.

I could go on. But we are treated like cattle and slaves in this country as it is. They might as well brand us while they are at it so when we DO commit a "crime" we are already in the database, right?

[DBoon]

15. because first it will be sex offenders

then it will be extended to other offenses, then to the population at large

When a tyranny wants total control over a population, they start by eliminating the freedoms of the most unpopular group.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

I am willing to risk having potential criminals that are not tracked, because I value my freedom

[JDwho]

25. Wonderfully written, I absolutely agree.

[amyrose2712]

26. Well said. nt

[47of74]

33. Sex offenders today, political dissidents tommorow...

[davidinalameda]

20. you're wrong

in many places, sex between an 18 year old and a 17 year old is not considered rape

sex offenders have been shown to repeat their crimes in large numbers

we're talking rapists here

I think that most of them should be locked up forever

murder is the only crime I can think of that is worse

[Eryemil]

38. Except if they are gay of course

The so called Romeo and Juliette laws do not apply to us.

[struggle4progress]

39. "There are individuals on sex-registry sites today who are married to the women with whom they had

consensual sex as teenagers and who are still labeled as sex offenders"

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E2DA1230F931A2575BC0A9619C8B63

[struggle4progress]

41. Definition of a sex offender

Sunny Peterson
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Perspectives

... A man whom we will call John was charged with and found guilty of mitigated statutory rape, a class E felony (Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-506). He was placed on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry. The victim was his then 15-year-old girlfriend and he had just turned 19; at the time of their relationship there was a 48-month difference satisfying the charges pressed by the parents of the young woman.

Fast forward nine years later. John has gone to college, become a productive citizen and married the young lady in question. They have been married nearly five years and have two children. The people who put him on the sex offender registry are the same ones that eat Christmas dinner with him every year; it is something they have all worked through as a family.

The family has also petitioned to have his name removed and is awaiting action on the matter. He is still a registered sex offender, the father of two and a devoted husband, yet he shares a page with a man in his town convicted of aggravated sexual battery involving a 10 year old, and an offender guilty of collecting and downloading child pornography.

It doesn't seem fair, does it? ... http://media.www.theallstate.com/media/storage/paper801/news/2008/09/03/Perspectives/Definition.Of.A.Sex.Offender-3409798.shtml

[Alexander]

42. When pissing in an alley can get you charged with a sex crime, how can you be serious?

"in many places, sex between an 18 year old and a 17 year old is not considered rape"

In many places, it is. The fact that it's considered rape anywhere is ridiculous.

"sex offenders have been shown to repeat their crimes in large numbers"

Yes, and people have been charged with sex crimes for ridiculous reasons.

A woman sunbathing topless? - Sex crime.

A drunk guy pissing in a back alley? - Sex crime.

Two high school kids, both nearly adults, in a consensual relationship? - If the parents are angry enough...sex crime.

"we're talking rapists here"

Not all sex offenders are rapists.

I'm sure you want to believe that's true, but it isn't.

Yes, rapists and child molesters should be locked up or institutionalized. No one's disputing that.

But tracking freed criminals is not really "freeing" them, is it? And if they shouldn't be "free", why are they on the streets?

The problem with issues like this is it's easy for people to get overly emotional. That's when people stop thinking and when ideas like "rapists should be punished" get twisted into "this group of people must be under constant surveillance, even when not in jail".

[salbi]

60. I agree with you about violent rapists, but that doesn't apply to all sex offenders.

There are many out there labeled as sex offenders who had consensual sex with someone under age. I know of someone who was 19 and had sex with a girl he thought was 17 (that's what she said), turns out she was 15. He served 5 years for it and will wear the label the rest of his life. While I admit it was really stupid of him not to find out for sure how old she was, it was consensual and the term violent rapist just doesn't apply.

[Zhade]

34. HE. PISSED. IN. AN. ALLEY.

And you want to take away his rights based on THAT?

"you want to wait until they commit another crime?"

Do you even understand the notion of 'innocent until proven guilty'?

[SAG]

7. Reoffenders

Well the consequence of subsequent offenses is generally death or serious harm....the stakes are pretty high, and often involve children.

[SAG]

8. And it's only Level 3s, a classification not given for public urination

[Alexander]

43. Oh, well that makes it okay, then.

:eyes:

Either these Level 3 sex offenders are too dangerous to release to the general public, or they pose no danger to people.

Pick one.

Either way, there is absolutely no argument for tracking them, or anyone else, after their release. None.

[customerserviceguy]

49. Yep

show me anybody who is even a level two for a nonviolent "crime" (yes, I consider kiddy porn violent, as the child being photographed is not of age to give consent to being exploited), and maybe I'll think this is not such a hot idea.

Level threes need to be extremely grateful that they are not breathing air that is coming through a prison filtration system for the rest of their lives. Or that they are breathing air at all.

[LiberalFighter]

5. All of the Bush Admin should be tracked

[Frisbee]

9. I think this may be heading down a slippery slope...

as you mentioned. I have no problem with taking all rights from sex offenders who prey on children, in fact, just lock them up for life as far as I'm concerned. But to start doing this to pretty much anyone convicted of a serious crime, who has served their time is going too far. And I doubt it would pass the smell test at the supreme court (unless McPOW gets a few appointments). Oh, and as for the rest of the sex offenders (those who don't prey on children), second offense should be life without parole.

[saigon68]

22. 1984 (The Book) was not fiction

its here today.

just look at all the "Good Jobs" created by this brave new world

[crikkett]

10. What have we come to? This is truly horrifying.

Especially when you consider that people are wrongly convicted.

This whole scarlet-letter treatment of sex offenders is going to backfire big time. (and OMG you want to strap that thing on everyone don't you? I'd hate to be your kid and late for curfew.)

Not only are we practically leaving these people out to the wolves, but criminals are going to prefer being murderers, if you know what I mean.

Seriously. Nobody's safe until everybody's safe, and that especially includes the dregs of society.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

11. As we speak somewhere a sociology PhD candidate is writing a dissertation

on the migratory patterns of homeless sex offenders.

[DBoon]

13. Make everyone wear these

we have all violated a law at some time or another, so we should all be tracked

[Pavulon]

18. you already do..

cell phone.

[superconnected]

35. not on the level sex offenders have.

And why not track car thieves. I guess you haven't had your car stolen by someone who's stolen at least 4 (how many other stolen cars were parked next to mine when they finally found it).

[Turbineguy]

14. I guess putting up a satellite

is cheaper than giving these people a home to go to.

[Pavulon]

21. These people are scum, kid rapers

and violent offenders. Their home should be something like Florence ADX. Let them rot.

This isn't the 18 year old senior who slept with a sophomore or some such.

The sat was already there.

[uppityperson]

16. I have no problem tracking Level 3 offenders. Here is more info on the Levels...

http://ml.waspc.org/FAQ.aspx#Level3

What is the definition of a Level III sex offender?

These offenders pose a potential high risk to the community and are a threat to re-offend if provided the opportunity. Most have prior sex crime convictions as well as other criminal convictions. Their lifestyles and choices place them in this classification. Some have predatory characteristics and may seek out victims. They may have refused or failed to complete approved treatment programs.



What is the definition of a Level II sex offender?

These offenders present a moderate risk to the community and they have a higher likelihood of re-offending than the Level 1 offenders. They are considered a higher risk to re-offend, because of the nature of their previous crime(s) and lifestyle (drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activity). Some have refused to participate or failed to complete approved treatment programs.



What is the definition of a Level I sex offender?

These offenders present the lowest possible risk to the community and their likelihood to re-offend is considered minimal. They normally have not exhibited predatory type characteristics and most have successfully participated or are participating in approved treatment programs. Many are first time offenders.

[Steelworker In OH]

17. Makes no sense

If they are such a risk for being repeat offenders, then why are they released before more rehabilitation? I really don't like the big brother things, I hate electronic surveillance of almost any kind, I see this as just another method of control by the people behind the curtain. That definition of "level 3" doesn't say enough specifically about the offender to warrant that level of electronic monitoring. I have a convicted/paroled sex offender living 3 doors down from me as we speak, I see him sitting out on the porch occasionally, minding his own business. We get a little more patrolling from the city police down this block as a result, which is fine, and good enough for me.

[BoneDaddy]

45. The recitivism rate for sex offenders is outreageous

I am not talking about pissing in an alley or mooning your friends on a school bus as being categorized as sex offenses. I am talking about repeat offenders who have ruined other people's lives. As far as I am concerned lock em up for good.

[Alexander]

44. Why release them at all if you think they're going to be dangerous?

Why not just keep them locked up or let them go?

The justice system, in this case, needs to shit or get off the pot.

[Dorian Gray]

47. I believe on the NY registered sex offender list

you have to be a Level III to even be named.

[JDwho]

19. Unfortunately, this is where it starts

This is where it starts. It has to start somewhere. What better place is there? No one – not me, not you…no one wants sex offenders lurking freely around our children.

At first, this GPS system gives us a sense of safety and security, which is exactly its purpose. Then, as the OP suggests, car thieves and gang members get their very own GPS bracelet. Then, it will be drunk and disorderly citizens…then, when the state/federal enforced curfew is violated…then, when a person openly disagrees with their government.

I don’t know the answer to these literally sick, sex offenders. I wish I did.

But, I know we don’t “give away” our freedoms so easily. An action like this would eventually effect everyday liberties. This is where the end of our privacy begins.

[customerserviceguy]

50. You could make the same point about any sort of punishment

or correction system. Yes, we could have prison sentences for ordinary offenses, but the simple fact is, we don't. Just because a punishment exists doesn't mean that it's going to go down the slippery slope for everyone, including jaywalkers and litterers.

This is a high tech way of dealing with a problem that we just didn't have a few years ago. I'm with the "lock em up and throw away the key" faction on rapists, and in our society, I'm one of the moderate people out there. I've heard more than a couple of wingnuts talk about using the techniques in that Catch a Predator show, only they wouldn't catch and release. I really have a hard time coming up with good arguments to show that this might be wrong.

[JDwho]

52. You have a point, laptoprepairguy.

I'm a bit hypersensitive about the government and their fondness for surveillance. However, for homeless sexual predators, rapists, and similar violent crimes...I suppose it would be the equivalent of house arrest.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

23. Just wait, in time the more these things are in service the more are on the street

and the cheaper they will become.

Someday you or I can buy a set at RadioShack.

But buy the time that happens, they will be hacked and then be useless.

[geckosfeet]

24. Hell - lets just tag everyone at birth and save time. eom

[JDwho]

27. Sorry, but I have an "in addition",

If these guys are homeless, from a psychological stand-point, it would be a good idea to provide shelter for these offenders who have 'paid their debt', thus preventing a high degree of stress and possibly a state of mind that is an actual antecedent to a sexually perverse crime.

[IsItJustMe]

28. Sex offenders one day, political dissidents the next. I know something has to be done with these

people, but this makes me nervous.

[JDwho]

29. Me too. We just can't accept it.

[IsItJustMe]

30. I hate this type of technology and nobody sees the danger in it. Like sheep led to the slaughter.

About 10 years ago they started putting EDR (event data recorders) in cars because automobile manufactures said it would provide them data to make there cars safer. These EDRs are now being used by law enforcement agencies in court cases against the drivers of their own cars. Most people don't even realize they have a little spy hooked up in there car that is monitoring their speed, brake compression, and all sorts of things.

This technology comes out, everybody says great, and at some point in the future that same technology is used against them.

It's a slippery slope.

[JDwho]

31. Agreed, this is much more than a slippery slope.

There is an alternative to citizens under surveillance.

[superconnected]

36. I do agree with you - I'm the one who started the thread.

I would like the solution to be to keep the repeat criminals in prison though - sex offenders, gang violence - murders crowd(cause I still consider murder worse than rape), etc. But, because they do let them go when they shouldn't, I'm willing to bend and say put the satalite on them. I do agree, it will inevitable lead to the bush administration types tracking everyone who doesn't agree with them as a "terrorist".

[Crowman1979]

32. On a different subject, why are people caught with a few joints never released...

yet these pervs are allowed to roam free. :wtf:

[superconnected]

55. Do you know of anybody in prison for a few joints that wasn't their third strike in California?

[JJ]

37. "car thieves, and people arrested for identity theft"?????

these are property crimes
how about jay walkers and speeders too
debtors, then the collection agencies can find the bums easier

[superconnected]

51. I guess you don't have experience with repeat offenders and how

they mess up peoples lives. You bet I want the repeat crooks to have gps on them.

[surrealAmerican]

46. I thought we had prisons for locking up people ...

... who were a genuine danger to society. This is ridiculous. If they are that dangerous, they should be in jail, if not this is violating their civil liberties.

[bitchkitty]

48. I'm so bothered by this.

On different levels. The fact that they are turning out convicted sex offenders onto the street is scary - these are people who need supervision, and who will supervise them on the street?

There should at minimum be a halfway house of some sort to make sure that they are reintroduced into society, not unleashed upon society.

On the surface, it might seem like a good plan to "track" these individuals by GPS. Slippery slope doesn't begin to describe my revulsion for this. What's next, implanting chips in their bodies, a kind of human OnStar? What kind of society would condone that? Not one I want to be a part of.

[bean fidhleir]

53. "that's long enough to send nearly all back to prison for repeating the crime"

If you're trying to say that most offenders re-offend, you should check your facts because you're several light-years from the truth.

A solid Canadian study showed that the sex-offense recidivism rate is LOWER than the rate for other offenders and other classes of crime.

This has been covered at DU several times in the past. I have to wonder why it keeps coming up.

[superconnected]

54. Any article you can point me to would be good.

I'm asking to be enlightened, I'm not being a smart ass.

[bean fidhleir]

57. One cite (a literature review/meta-study): 73% remained clean for 20 years

from http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/sum/cprs200407_1-eng.aspx

When the whole sample was examined, it was found that within the first five years of release, 14% had a new charge or conviction for a sexual offence. This percentage represents an overall average for a mixed group of sexual offenders. In the following five years (between years 5 and 10) an additional six percent (6%) of sexual offenders failed and in the five years following that (between years 10 and 15) an additional four percent (4%) failed. Between years 15 and 20, post-release, an additional three percent (3%) had a new charge or conviction for a sexual offence. After twenty years, 73% of sexual offenders had not been charged with, or convicted of, another sexual offence in the community. (emphasis added)

In a sub-analysis, offenders were divided into those with a previous sexual offence on their record and those without a previous sexual offence. It was found that offenders who had no previous sexual offence (first time sexual offenders) were significantly less likely to sexually re-offend than those with a previous offence. Offenders with no previous sexual offences recidivated at about half the rate of repeat sexual offenders (19% vs. 37% after 15 years). Additional analyses indicated that "boy victim" child molesters sexually re-offended at a higher rate than rapists who, in turn, recidivated more often than "girl victim" child molesters or incest offenders. It was also found that offenders over the age of 50 re-offended less often than younger offenders. As well, the longer an offender remained offence-free in the community, the less likely they were to re-offend.

[Blue_Tires]

56. yeesh...and i just watched the last episode of "The Last Enemy"

on PBS last night...the last thing i need to wake up to is a story like this...

[mainegreen]

58. If you need to track them, they shouldn't be out of prison.

Frankly, this looks like a way to keep someone in prison without having to provide all the niceties of health care, food and a roof.

NICE FUCKING COUNTRY WE LIVE IN

[eowyn_of_rohan]

59. Is that a GPS device embedded in the new passports?

or does anyone know what the passports are read by? I hate my new passport. Travel is supposed to set you free. This is a creeeeepy ball and chain now.

[Jed Dilligan]

61. "Sex offender" is one of those mythical categories

that the sales force for the prison industry uses to gull paranoid, ignorant people.