64 in my ZIP code, 6 of them women.

If you've served your time, you shouldn't be further penalized. I understand the concerns of people like LM, though, which is why I'd rather see something like a microchip and tracking.

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"If these walls could talk, I'd listen to the floor."--Rev. Horton Heat

Wait, wasn't that a Bush proposal for Democrats? :oops:

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www.taxgirl.com

You have to think of why Megan's Law was written in the first place to be comfortable with notification and a website such as this- since we, as Americans, do not appropriately punish child sex-offenders (life sentences) we do have to protect the community from them in other ways.

Megan Kanka was killed by a man who had committed two previous offenses against children. He clearly was not fit to be out in society. All Jesse Timmendequas learned in jail was that when he commits his next offense, he should leave no witnesses. Megan's mother has said time and again that had she known what sort of monster was living across the street from her home, she'd never have let Megan out to play without appropriate supervision. Mind you, Megan's street was deep within a neighborhood. The only cars traveling on her road would be her neighbors coming to and from. Letting Megan play in the front yard was not something she should have had to worry about.

Notification like this will protect the children. Don't commit the crime and you wont have to worry about your picture being posted. If you are not guilty of the crime - don't plead guilty. Very simple.

If you don't believe the criminal should be out of jail, why not revise sentencing laws rather than pass this legislation? Isn't it weird to say "we don't trust you but we're letting you go"?

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www.taxgirl.com

We've tried and are continuing to fight to change sentences. In the mean time - we must notify neighbors and communities that these these wackos are in our/their midst.

It is VERY weird to read statistics on pedophiles and their recidivism rates and then see the sentence which correlates with their crimes. It's astounding that they aren't sentenced to life upon commital of the first crime.

Pffft!

I despise things like this, but I'm not ready to write all these folks off just yet. Especially when our corrections system still focuses too much on punishment instead of rehabilitation.

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"If these walls could talk, I'd listen to the floor."--Rev. Horton Heat

Here is the thing then. If they can't be trusted when the sentence is over and we need to have all this extra stuff, why not just make the sentences longer ?

They did their time, if they can't be trusted , and everyone is afraid they will do it again........ then keep them the hell in jail.

OK, SiP, very nice summary of the party line. Nobody has seriously questioned the aspects of the law that you brought up. However, you failed to address at all any of the specfic concerns that have been brought up:

1. "If you are not guilty of the crime - don't plead guilty. Very simple." Re-read my post. For people who are charged post-Megan's law, your advice is sound. My concern is for people who made decisions based on one set of rules, and those rules have now been changed after the fact. The government said to these individuals, "Plead out and we'll give you this sentence." Now, years later, the government is saying, "Well, we changed our mind. This is what your sentence actually is, and you have no option to renegotiate." That is a travesty of justice, regardless of the guilt or innocence of the person.

2. Painting a wide variety of offenders, whose crimes and rates of recidivism vary, with the same brush. The specific example of the consensual statutory rapist was mentioned.

Basically this is yet another example of our country willingly forgoing freedom in the name of safety. A free society has inherent dangers. Repeatedly, over the past 200+ years, Americans have chosen freedom over absolute safety. That would still be my preference. What troubles me are those who believe that they are only sacrificing the freedom of others with laws like this,when in fact they are curtailing their own.

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Thomas Taylor

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Well said, Mr. Taylor.

What Sidney, and too many others, fail to grasp is how the system actually works - especially for those without means to hire decent attorneys and who must avail themselves of the public defender system (who are well-meaning but overworked attorneys).

I don't have the numbers for Philadelphia, but in some jurisdictions nearly 90% of criminal cases are plead out - often for lower crimes. The person arrested may be innocent but can't make bail and thus spends 60-90 days in jail awaiting trial. With a weak case, a deal is cut between the Public Defender and the DA's office saying that the accused can plead down and take time served plus probation. With few assets and not much ability to contest the charges, the defendant will usually take the deal. Innocence has little to do with it; procedure has lots to do with it.

And then, the defendant may find his/her name and face on a website.

It would be nice if the system worked the way it does on TV and everyone got their day in court with a qualified attorney who could spend time and money preparing for the defense.

Unfortunately, that rarely happens.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

There's two other threads on Megan's Law...

http://phillyblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1301

http://phillyblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8135

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Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben