The Jerry Sandusky guilty verdict undoubtedly surprised no one, except maybe for the news breaking so late in the evening. This time is a good time to point out a few things about this entire debacle. .Now that Sandusky is convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse, you must take a hard look at this man in relation to Megan's Flaw.
Megan's Law and subsequent laws, like the Adam Walsh Act and Jessica's Law, were birthed in high-profile cases. When we think of the registry, we think of people like Sandusky. However, if you look on the Megan's Law list, you would not find Jerry Sandusky's face. I discussed this detail in a previous blog post.No registry, no residency restriction, no GPS monitoring, no signs in the lawn, and no scarlet letter law could have prevented this man from committing sex crimes, because he is among the about 95% of sex crime cases that are committed by those with no prior record.
The second point. We think everyone on the registry is a Jerry Sandusky type offender, they all got a slap on the wrist, and so on. Well, people like Jerry Sandusky will never see the light of day. Then there are those who are out and on the list. All 750,000 of them will pay for what Sandusky did somehow. Some new law, some more tightening of the screws, and more vigilante violence.
Across the country, in Washington state, two people were being put to rest as a criminal with a history of drugs and assault shot and killed two people on the list and planned to kill a third. Both were free, they served their time and had been out for years without incident. One of the men was a 28 year old man who, at age 17, had a consensual relationship with another teen who was deaf. The parents did not approve and the boy was charged with the ominous sounding "first-degree rape." Since then, he got married and had two kids. These two children will grow up with out their father, and the person who murdered their father is declared a hero by society with Jerry Sandusky on their minds.
Patrick Drum did not kill two "Jerry Sanduskys." Nor did Sandusky's victims ever find him on the list.
The registry protects no one.
For another take on this, read Shana Rowan's blog:
http://www.iloveasexoffender.blogspot.com/2012/06/jerry-sandusky-never-was-never-will-be.html
Another take on this, from Shaun Webb:
http://amotionforinnocence.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/i-believe-sandusky-did-it-but/
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
ACTION ALERT: Please help Leslie Blanton lay her husband, and father of two sons, to rest
This is a cross-post from the ESCAPE website, none of this is my work, I'm merely re-posting for other people's benefit.
To learn how to donate, go here: http://www.endsexcrime.org/helptheblantons.html
Please help Leslie Blanton lay her husband, and father of two sons, to rest
Last week, 28-year-old Gary Blanton was gunned down in Port Angeles, Washington. He left behind a widow, Leslie, and two little boys, Skylar and Gary Junior.
Leslie is a young now single mother struggling to carry on; the funeral home has been very generous in allowing her extra time to come up with the funds to bury Gary and hold a service for him. However, she is still just over $3,000 short and out of options as of tomorrow.
Any amount you can contribute will be greatly appreciated and put towards funeral expenses for this dearly loved husband and father. Leslie and her loved ones thank you very much for your compassion!
To learn how to donate, go here: http://www.endsexcrime.org/helptheblantons.html
Please help Leslie Blanton lay her husband, and father of two sons, to rest
Last week, 28-year-old Gary Blanton was gunned down in Port Angeles, Washington. He left behind a widow, Leslie, and two little boys, Skylar and Gary Junior.
Leslie is a young now single mother struggling to carry on; the funeral home has been very generous in allowing her extra time to come up with the funds to bury Gary and hold a service for him. However, she is still just over $3,000 short and out of options as of tomorrow.
Any amount you can contribute will be greatly appreciated and put towards funeral expenses for this dearly loved husband and father. Leslie and her loved ones thank you very much for your compassion!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
From Megan's Law to Mug Shot Magazines: Citizen involvement in the growing police state
America is slowly becoming a similar police state. But just like the Nazi era, the police is not the only concern. This generation has done the same. We are a nation of nanny cams, background checks, and a growing number of public pillories known as "registries". Right now meth maker registries, domestic violence registries, and animal abuser either on the books are in the process of creation. Hell, we even have registries for your dog!
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| Bad Dog, Go Register! |
But even that is not enough. Someone has decided that taking mug shots and putting them in a newspaper format and selling them is a great business opportunity. Somewhere along the way, we've turned the criminal justice system into the next spectator sport:
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| Someone should make a rag with pics of those who sell this crap |
Imagine going to the Internet to search your name only to find a mug shot from years ago posted on multiple websites. There are publications and websites whose sole purpose is to feature police booking photos. Some make a profit selling advertising around the photos, while other websites are offering, for a price, to remove or hide these images permanently. ***** McMahon learned about the mug shot business the hard way.
In 2003, McMahon woke up one morning covered in blood, with stab wounds and evicted from his home. McMahon was fired from his job and slept in a gas station bathroom that night. McMahon knew his life was in need of a change. At the time, the then-bartender was dealing with the deaths of his best friend and sister within months of each other, along with a family history of drug abuse. McMahon started using cocaine at age 12 and lived in a drug-induced haze until he was 23. During those tumultuous years, McMahon was arrested several times, including two instances for driving under the influence of alcohol.
These days, McMahon is a happily married, churchgoing father who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. His wife, ***** McMahon, is a part-time student at the University of Georgia earning a master's in social work. When they're not working, life for the McMahons revolves around their 2-year-old daughter, ******. It is a much different existence than McMahon once had.
Congratulations are in order. This man turned his life around, rehabilitated, cleaned up his act, etc. He's a happily married man with a wife and kid, works hard, and even goes to church. Who would want to mess that up? Enter the Mug Shot Magazine Business:
As part of his recovery, McMahon went to the Internet to check his online image after he read that employers use Google to search the names of potential employees. Having served the time for his crimes, McMahon was shocked to find his mug shot still posted on a website along with others. He contacted the site to have the image removed. He paid a another site to have the mug shot removed only to see his photo show up in four other places. "It's like killing one flea and then saying, 'OK the flea problem is done,'" McMahon said. His frustration built when he contacted the website Reputation.com, which said for $7,500 it could not get rid of his image, but could "bury" it in Internet purgatory.
McMahon is not alone in finding his murky past displayed for the public.
So you not only have a business that posts your mug shot, no matter how old it is, but for a high price, you can pay to have it removed. But then it shows up elsewhere, because now that you have paid one site, other sites know you are willing to pay. It is like the South Park "Underpants Gnome" equation, only instead of collect underpants, someone collected mug shots, and they found that missing step to turn mug shots into profit.
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| I'm pretty sure a phase 2 involves something illegal. |
Yes, I went there.
Caught Up is a Tennessee-based weekly that dubs itself a "crime-fighting publication." It features police booking photos. Found primarily in smaller communities throughout Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky, the publication showcases people's names and alleged crimes listed below their mug shots. Caught Up and other similar papers collect mug shots, which are public record, from sheriffs and local police departments, who hand over the information with the names listed in alphabetical order, detailing the criminal charges. These photos are also featured and archived on the publication's website caughtuplive.com...
"Sometimes I say I'm the most popular woman of the small counties because police departments are so grateful," said Lori Broderick, the media liaison for Caught Up. Broderick is involved in the publication of every paper, which puts out more than 25,000 copies weekly. Broderick, who is also a paralegal, joined the Caught Up team in December 2010. She feels the mission of the paper is to give people the ability to keep an eye on their communities.
Well in the interest of fairness, I will post a link to Lori Broderick's Facebook page here in case any one is interested in suing her. So if they are putting out 25k+ copies per week at a dollar a pop, and assuming they are making at least a 50 cent profit ($12,500 weekly), then they are racking up $650,000 per year. That is a lot of dollar rags.
The flip side is how the publication affects the people showcased. Broderick recalled a man who was a sex offender and had finished serving his sentence. The man was trying to rejoin the community but felt he couldn't with his mug shot in the paper and online. Broderick said she and her team discussed the issue, but ultimately felt their need to inform was more important than helping the man overcome his past.
"When you're talking about the safety of the community and the safety of children and seeing as how these are already public records, we just made the determination that it was in the best interest of the public to have this information available," Broderick said. "The lack of knowledge was not a chance that we were ready to take."
Here we get to the meat of the issue. The paper really should have said "their need to publicly humiliate in order to sell papers was more important than helping the man overcome his past. In other words, increasing the likelihood of recidivism is LESS important than selling papers.
Mug shots: Informative vs. slander?
Caught Up consists mostly of mug shots with a few related written pieces and various games that it calls "informative fun." There also is some local advertising. Caught Up Vice President Geoffrey Bar-Lev said in today's economy the profit margin for this business is relatively low. However, the demand for the publication in smaller communities has remained the same. The business makes money even if the lives of the people who make up its content have changed, which leaves someone like McMahon out of luck.
Again, I broke down the profit margin. What is disturbing is Caught Up calls this "informative fun." So what can you do about it?
Several clients have asked Kavan Singh-Grover, an Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney, about removing their mug shots from the sites and about what legal action can be taken. "They are using a person's image for commercial gain without their permission," said Singh-Grover. "To me, its extortion, maybe not legally, but the common use of that term." Singh-Grover said legally, there is nothing that can be done. The only thing that could stop the publications and websites is legislation that forbids them. That legislation does not exist.
That legislation NEEDS to exist. That being said, I'd argue False Light and misusing my image. And yes, these papers have been sued in the past, HERE and also HERE.
Caught Up's Broderick said she understands the concerns and said other publications might have a lower standard, but their purpose is to encourage safety in communities, not promote public humiliation. "People think we are in the business to mock," Broderick said. "They believe that we have photos of a person who has been arrested to allow the community to thumb their nose at and that's not our purpose. If people find some of the mug shots amusing, that's more or less a side effect." McMahon isn't laughing.
Oh, really?
It is hard to claim that when all the mug shot papers' web pages resemble this.
"But that's the main way they make profit, right," he said. "We can read a paper without looking at a picture and know that seven people were arrested for DUI -- we don't need the picture. It just -- to me -- seems like the way that they're making money is because the pictures are pathetic or sometimes funny."
RemoveSlander.com is a website that erases mug shots from the Web once a person has been legally cleared. The site said it uses "trade tools" to eliminate the mug shot. Spokesperson Philip Lee said he does not feel RemoveSlander.com should be "affiliated with the mug shot website."
RemoveSlander.com via ImageMax Mugshot Removal said it is the first reputation management firm to offer the service. For $399, RemoveSlander.com allows a customer to specify one website from which to have a mug shot deleted. For $699.00, the mug shot is removed from three sites. Remove.Slander.com has 14 business days to remove the mug shot from the website and Google or the customer gets their money back. If a customer has multiple arrests with more than one booking photo, that costs more.
In his suburban Atlanta home, McMahon seems at peace with his new life and everything that comes with it. However, he's eager to talk about his past if it means more people are aware of publications like Caught Up and sites like RemoveSlander.com.
"I'm human, I made a couple of mistakes -- it's not a secret I made more than one," McMahon said. "Everyone has a past. It's just unfortunate that mine is exploited for profit."
Again, this is all about the money.
With 65 million Americans with criminal records, including 750,000 or so on the sex offender registry, the business opportunities are endless, at the expense of the people.
I have my own story to tell. During the lowest point in my life, the week my mother died, they released my mug shot in a Mug Shot rag, leading to harassment as I was grieving over my mother's death. A neighbor told my now ex-fiancee Brandi's mother that I was a "bad man" who "hurts people." The same could be said for that person as well as the people who run the Mug Shot Magazines.
I have my own story to tell. During the lowest point in my life, the week my mother died, they released my mug shot in a Mug Shot rag, leading to harassment as I was grieving over my mother's death. A neighbor told my now ex-fiancee Brandi's mother that I was a "bad man" who "hurts people." The same could be said for that person as well as the people who run the Mug Shot Magazines.
My original premise is this phenomenon is merely an extension of the Gestapo generation. Megan's Law, the flint that ignited this fire, has expanded over the years to other crimes. The justification has been to "inform the public." However, we have seen that argument fall apart when you see how these papers are viewed by the general public. It is the return to the scarlet letter and public pillories. These methods have been proven ineffective, so there is no other reason to have them than for entertainment value. Roman society crumbled while its citizens were distracted by "bread and circuses." American society is falling into an equally dangerous trap.
It is past time for legislation putting an end to these practices once and for all.
Friday, May 18, 2012
How the Media "BUT-fucks" (tm) an article
If there is one thing I've learned about the media over the years, it is they are biased and full of shit. We all know that, but while we poke fun at Faux News and their ilk, there are plenty of brain-dead sheeple who take them seriously.
There are plenty of these articles and it goes something like this. You are reading an article and 90% of the story is good, but in the interest of showing the other side, the reporter finds some random schmuck to spout some dissenting catchphrase. This person is generally introduced (not always but often) with the word BUT, and it is a big ole BUT.
This article has just been BUT-fucked.
There are two recent articles that illustrate this trend of media sodomy.
Sex Offender Registry and Community Safety: Does it Work?
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: May 17, 2012
In 2010, KARK took a look at the sex offender registry system and how well it works. Changes in state law and the way information is reported had us taking another look to see if the system keeps communities safe.
"I'm a level three, which is called a high risk sex offender," he said across the desk.
Robert Combs is required to check in with Little Rock Police every six months to make sure they know where he lives.
"I think we have to step back from that one-size fits all approach to the way we deal with people on the registry," Combs said.
Combs is a Level III sex offender, but he's also the Executive Director of an advocacy group for sex offenders in the Natural State, called Arkansas Time After Time, pushing for fewer barriers for some offenders.
"It's the knee-jerk reaction to pass further laws like residency restrictions that people think it's going to make communities safer but really it makes communities less safe," he said.
His reasoning? Combs said the restrictions on residency make finding a house, a job, or a normal existence next to impossible, so some offenders will try to skirt the system.
"It's harder for their probation parole officer and their supervising team to watch them," Combs said. "They'll move to the countryside and if they're in the city they will go underground. That actually makes communities less safe."
Paula Stitz, the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry manager, disagrees. (Here is the "but fucking")She said two major strides in the past year have made the Sex Offender Registry more efficient and more capable of keeping communities informed.
"You can't tell me having the registry does not save people's lives," she said. "I know, I hear stories every day, where it has and continues to keep people safe. Information is power. Sex offenders have relied on our hesitancy to say the word sex or sex offender. It allowed them to stay in the dark. But now, this system is shining a light on them, and they don't care for that. It doesn't really allow them to live the lifestyle they want to live."
EXAMPLE #2: http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Woman-engaged-to-sex-offender-registry-ruined-our-life-143561776.html
Woman engaged to sex offender: registry ruined our life
By HILARY LANE
Story Created: Mar 20, 2012 at 6:19 PM EDT
Story Updated: Mar 20, 2012 at 6:19 PM EDT
ONEIDA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A woman engaged to a man who committed a sex crime is calling for the New York State Sex Offender Registry to be eliminated.
Shana Rowan's fiance committed a sex crime in 2004 and served four years in jail. Now her fiance's name is cemented in the New York State Sex Offender Registry forever and Rowan says it is impossible for them to move on.
"As long as the registry exists, I am always going to be living in fear," said Rowan. "I already had my car vandalized. My car is on the registry since he drives it. My neighbors won't talk to us, they think we are scum, and I never know how long my relationships are going to last. I never know if they are going to find out and think that he is scum and decide I am not worth it."
Rowan has now dedicated her life to advocating for families of sex offenders tormented by the registry and openly talks about these issues on her blog: iloveasexoffender.blogspot.com
"We don't believe sex crimes shouldn't be punished. We don't believe it is okay. We are not condoning it," said Rowan. "All we are promoting is safety and equality for families. All families. Part of that is allowing families of registrants to be safe in their homes."
(Here comes the BUT-fucking)
Richard Ferrucci, Senior Investigator for the District Attorney's Office, said the Sex Offender Registry is vital to society.
"The public has the right to know these people were dangerous, probably still are dangerous, or can be dangerous in the future to young children," said Ferrucci. "Children don't really have a means to protect themselves. By having a means to access information that is out there about crimes these people commit is paramount to keep their children safe."
I each example, the big BUT comes in the form of two people, Paula Stitz and Richard Ferrucci. Stitz is a disgraced police chief who was fired over corruption yet got a job with Arkansas sex offender registry. Richard Ferrucci, who is this clown? What is his credentials?
In each story, the focus of the article was supposed to be collateral consequences of life on the registry, the impact of life on the registry, BUT(fucked) then, someone pulls out the big BUT and fucked the entire article. What was the article about again?
The position of the big BUT is important, because for those who don't simply read the headline and actually take the time to read the article will remember the BUT because it is usually at the end of the article. So the article looks more like this:
The real story is this person we inconvenienced to tell his/her important story, BUT! This random expert spouts a myth and this person is important so listen to this random expert and fuck the first person.
This is your media article on the sex offender issue in a nutshell.
I'm not sure what to offer by way of remedy but Tom Madison, former CEO of SOClear Media, came up with this term in a recent conversation and it is worthy of use. I have been a victim of media sodomy as well. The media will approach me for an interview, butter me up (oh wait is that butter or vaseline?), then when the article comes up, my story is overshadowed by someone's big fat BUT. I'm not the only one. Perhaps we should register reporters that do these things. What do you think?
I'm not sure what to offer by way of remedy but Tom Madison, former CEO of SOClear Media, came up with this term in a recent conversation and it is worthy of use. I have been a victim of media sodomy as well. The media will approach me for an interview, butter me up (oh wait is that butter or vaseline?), then when the article comes up, my story is overshadowed by someone's big fat BUT. I'm not the only one. Perhaps we should register reporters that do these things. What do you think?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
At Ground Zero for the war on sex offenders
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| In the shadow of Ground Zero, with the new construction of the "Freedom Tower" in the background, the media frenzy over the possible Ground Zero for the war on sex offenders was bustling with activity. This photo (c) 2012 Derek Logue of www.oncefallen.com, not to be reused w/o permission. |
"We want kids to walk around smart and not scared," -- Alison Feigh, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
"I said to him, 'If you got a sense from us that the world is a scary place, it came from Etan Patz. That's where it came from. And I'm sorry if we did do that. Because it's not a good thing to imbue in a child." -- Cass Collins, wife of the father of a child in Etan's playgroup, to her son
"Though I realize that the likelihood of any one of my own three children being abducted is likely less than them being struck by lightning, that doesn't mean that it's not a real, albeit slightly irrational, fear."-- Jodi Halkin, of Palm Beach, Fla., who grew up around the corner from Adam Walsh. Halkin won't even write her children's names on their T-shirts or backpacks out of fear that a stranger might be able to call one of them by name.
All above quotes came from the Christian Science Monitor article, "Etan Patz: His disappearance started the era of parental anxiety," by Meghan Barr, April 23, 2012
This past weekend I went to New York City to be on the Paula Gloria Show. As I was sitting at the station awaiting my transport, the Etan Patz case was all over the CNN channel, which was playing in the lobby. Who is Etan Patz? He was a young boy who went missing on May 25th 1979, and his disappearance was the catalyst for the current era of parental anxiety, and ultimately the war on sex offenders.
The Etan Patz disappearance was among the first disappearance to trigger a massive search for a single missing child in the modern era, and while overshadowed by the death of Adam Walsh and the activism by his John Walsh (who helped begin the NCMEC and the milk carton campaigns), the Patz case is still Ground Zero for what would ultimately become the "war on sex offenders." Patz was the first child features on a milk carton, according to AMNY, a free local newspaper handed to me by a local.
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| A local TV reporter tries waving off a fan while reporting on the Etan Patz search. This picture (c) 2012 Derek W. Logue of www.oncefallen.com. Do not reuse w/o permission |
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| The short balding guy in the beige clothes is swallowed by the media frenzy. Behind the media antenna to the right stands Freedom Tower. This picture (c) 2012 Derek W. Logue of www.oncefallen.com, do not use w/o permission. |
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| The FBI and NYPD cordoned an entire block for nearly 5 days in a futile search. This pic (c) 2012 Derek W Logue of www.oncefallen.com. Do not use w/o permission |
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| Etan Patz's parents left a note outside their apartment asking to be left alone |
Whatever the case may be, if indeed the "era of innocence" was lost, so has the age of common sense. one look at the frenzy over this case is all it takes to see how far we have gone in exalting missing child cases in this country. For the war on sex offenders, as in the equally misguided war on terror, the war began in downtown New York City.
Monday, April 9, 2012
The sequel no one wanted: Bookville II, return of the Miami sex offender camp
The fourth and final of my Examiner.com articles. In the future, I will NOT support The Examiner as they discriminate against ex-felons.
Bookville II, return of the Miami sex offender camp
Derek Logue
Cincinnati Crime Examiner
Bookville II, return of the Miami sex offender camp
Derek Logue
Cincinnati Crime Examiner
You cannot have your cake and eat it too. -- Old proverb
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Five long years ago, Miami's stringent 2500 foot residency restriction laws forced the city's registered persons into a handful of locations where it was still legal for them to live.The Julia Tuttle Causeway "sex offender camp" began with five men forced to live under the bridge connecting Miami Beach to Miami's Midtown. Over time, the camp grew to over 100 residents before the camp was destroyed in March 2010, and the former residents were scattered among the remaining available locations.
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Five long years ago, Miami's stringent 2500 foot residency restriction laws forced the city's registered persons into a handful of locations where it was still legal for them to live.The Julia Tuttle Causeway "sex offender camp" began with five men forced to live under the bridge connecting Miami Beach to Miami's Midtown. Over time, the camp grew to over 100 residents before the camp was destroyed in March 2010, and the former residents were scattered among the remaining available locations.
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At the heart of the Julia Tuttle Causeway Sex Offender colony is Ron Book, a powerful South Florida lobbyist who, with the help of his daughter, Lauren Book-Lim, spearheaded the efforts to create the toughest residency laws in the country. The result was a residency restriction law barring sex offenders from living within 2500 of any place children may congregate, leaving the Julia Tuttle Causeway and a handful of isolated areas as the only legal places for registrants to live.
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Ron Book has not been without controversy. Ron Book was convicted of violating Florida's campaign finance laws multiple times, and now has a criminal record. Book still holds power in South Florida despite being under federal investigation for more political corruption. Corruption seems to be par for the course in South Florida.
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In a cruel twist of fate, Ron Book is also head of Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, entrusted to assist the homeless. Thus, Ron Book was charged with the task of assisting the very people he forced into homelessness in the first place. Needless to say, Ron Book was not well liked or trusted by those he forced under the bridge. The JTC registrants even posted a sign proclaiming "Welcome to Bookville." At least when pandering to the media, Book claimed he was doing everything he could to help the residents. He even admitted he was "wrong" to promote residency laws.
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The solution seems simple enough-- abolishing or reducing residency laws, as Iowa had done. But since we are talking about South Florida, the natural law of logic does not apply. Consider the following from Senator David Aronberg:
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"Aronberg — at 37, the youngest member of the Senate — said when the state passed a law in 1993 prohibiting sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, and day care centers it seemed like a good idea and local municipalities soon followed suit...
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"Ironically, Aronberg said, what started out as a well-intentioned way to keep kids safe from sex offenders has actually put them in greater danger. Unable to find housing after being released from prison, sex offenders have become homeless or have gone underground in record numbers. He noted Miami-Dade County made national news recently when sex offenders there were sent to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway...
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"In an attempt to remedy this situation, Aronberg said he has put forth legislation — with the support of law enforcement, prosecutors, and child safety advocates — to create a single, consistent 1,500 ft. residency restriction throughout Florida. Aronberg said the bill, which passed the Senate last year, but was not taken up by the House, would end the confusion caused by 128 different ordinances, and would eliminate the homeless sex offender problem that endangers public safety."
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To sum up Aronberg's statements, sex offender residency laws do not work because it creates homelessness and puts lives at risk, therefore, the solution is increasing statewide residency restrictions to make more restricted areas across Florida and increase homeless registrants across the entire state. That makes perfect sense.
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Back at Bookville, Ron Book pandered to the media once again, proclaiming he found federal funds to relocate the JTC residents. It was the perfect plan--hide the city's international embarassment under the guise of assisting the homeless, and the media bought it hook, line, and sinker. The camp was closed and the residents were moved to temporary shelters. The media soon forgotten about the debacle (or more accurately, swept under the rug), but for those who once lived in Bookvville, the story was far from over.
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It wasn't long before Book pulled the funding he collected to aid the registrants, and they were forced back onto the street. Since the Julia Tuttle Causeway was now off-limits, the registrants were sheltered at a Department of Corrections parking lot. Meanwhile, Ron Book was back to his old tricks, defending his support of the residency laws and mocking those who appose him as "advocates for predators" and "suspect."
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It may have been the end of the Julia Tuttle Causeway camp, but not Bookville. The Emperor of Bookville found a new spot for his empire; Emperor Book began a conquest of Shorecrest. Soon Book found himself back on damage control. Here is a statement from Ron Book from the Miami Herald in November 2011:
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Whatever the merits of Book’s resettlement efforts, he cautioned they were temporary: “I can’t pay rent for these people forever. It runs for a period of time and runs out.” Indeed, soon afterwards, Book declared an end to the Trust’s aid for the Bookville exiles: “As far as we’re concerned, our help for people under the bridge is done.” He acknowledged, however, that without this aid, many would “end up back somewhere on the streets,” adding ominously “We just don’t know where.”
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And here is his statement in response to the media's uproar over his new Shorecrest kingdom:
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“I’m shocked. It makes me crazy. We worked very hard to make sure this crap didn’t happen again.”
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It does not look like Ron Book is being honest. Book has done everything to keep his law on the books, including using his daughter Lauren to promote his laws. Lauen has increased her yearly "awareness" walk by 500 miles each year; this year she allegedly walked 39 miles for 39 days, or about 1,500 miles. The books are sponsoring even more legislation to ensure more residents of Bookville in the future. The motivation behind it is Lauren Book's abuse at the hands of her nanny, who was not listed on the public registry. Nothing the Books have advocated would have prevented Lauren's abuse.
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Ron Book wants to have his cake and eat it, too. He wants his residency restrictions yet wants the homeless camps swept under the rug. It is the bad sequel nobody wanted for everyone involved. Once again Miami finds itself the center of international embarassment, and once again, Ron Book is the star of the show.
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More on the Julia Tuttle Causeway/Bookville Saga can be found at Once Fallen.
At the heart of the Julia Tuttle Causeway Sex Offender colony is Ron Book, a powerful South Florida lobbyist who, with the help of his daughter, Lauren Book-Lim, spearheaded the efforts to create the toughest residency laws in the country. The result was a residency restriction law barring sex offenders from living within 2500 of any place children may congregate, leaving the Julia Tuttle Causeway and a handful of isolated areas as the only legal places for registrants to live.
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Ron Book has not been without controversy. Ron Book was convicted of violating Florida's campaign finance laws multiple times, and now has a criminal record. Book still holds power in South Florida despite being under federal investigation for more political corruption. Corruption seems to be par for the course in South Florida.
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In a cruel twist of fate, Ron Book is also head of Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, entrusted to assist the homeless. Thus, Ron Book was charged with the task of assisting the very people he forced into homelessness in the first place. Needless to say, Ron Book was not well liked or trusted by those he forced under the bridge. The JTC registrants even posted a sign proclaiming "Welcome to Bookville." At least when pandering to the media, Book claimed he was doing everything he could to help the residents. He even admitted he was "wrong" to promote residency laws.
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The solution seems simple enough-- abolishing or reducing residency laws, as Iowa had done. But since we are talking about South Florida, the natural law of logic does not apply. Consider the following from Senator David Aronberg:
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"Aronberg — at 37, the youngest member of the Senate — said when the state passed a law in 1993 prohibiting sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, and day care centers it seemed like a good idea and local municipalities soon followed suit...
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"Ironically, Aronberg said, what started out as a well-intentioned way to keep kids safe from sex offenders has actually put them in greater danger. Unable to find housing after being released from prison, sex offenders have become homeless or have gone underground in record numbers. He noted Miami-Dade County made national news recently when sex offenders there were sent to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway...
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"In an attempt to remedy this situation, Aronberg said he has put forth legislation — with the support of law enforcement, prosecutors, and child safety advocates — to create a single, consistent 1,500 ft. residency restriction throughout Florida. Aronberg said the bill, which passed the Senate last year, but was not taken up by the House, would end the confusion caused by 128 different ordinances, and would eliminate the homeless sex offender problem that endangers public safety."
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To sum up Aronberg's statements, sex offender residency laws do not work because it creates homelessness and puts lives at risk, therefore, the solution is increasing statewide residency restrictions to make more restricted areas across Florida and increase homeless registrants across the entire state. That makes perfect sense.
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Back at Bookville, Ron Book pandered to the media once again, proclaiming he found federal funds to relocate the JTC residents. It was the perfect plan--hide the city's international embarassment under the guise of assisting the homeless, and the media bought it hook, line, and sinker. The camp was closed and the residents were moved to temporary shelters. The media soon forgotten about the debacle (or more accurately, swept under the rug), but for those who once lived in Bookvville, the story was far from over.
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It wasn't long before Book pulled the funding he collected to aid the registrants, and they were forced back onto the street. Since the Julia Tuttle Causeway was now off-limits, the registrants were sheltered at a Department of Corrections parking lot. Meanwhile, Ron Book was back to his old tricks, defending his support of the residency laws and mocking those who appose him as "advocates for predators" and "suspect."
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It may have been the end of the Julia Tuttle Causeway camp, but not Bookville. The Emperor of Bookville found a new spot for his empire; Emperor Book began a conquest of Shorecrest. Soon Book found himself back on damage control. Here is a statement from Ron Book from the Miami Herald in November 2011:
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Whatever the merits of Book’s resettlement efforts, he cautioned they were temporary: “I can’t pay rent for these people forever. It runs for a period of time and runs out.” Indeed, soon afterwards, Book declared an end to the Trust’s aid for the Bookville exiles: “As far as we’re concerned, our help for people under the bridge is done.” He acknowledged, however, that without this aid, many would “end up back somewhere on the streets,” adding ominously “We just don’t know where.”
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And here is his statement in response to the media's uproar over his new Shorecrest kingdom:
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“I’m shocked. It makes me crazy. We worked very hard to make sure this crap didn’t happen again.”
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It does not look like Ron Book is being honest. Book has done everything to keep his law on the books, including using his daughter Lauren to promote his laws. Lauen has increased her yearly "awareness" walk by 500 miles each year; this year she allegedly walked 39 miles for 39 days, or about 1,500 miles. The books are sponsoring even more legislation to ensure more residents of Bookville in the future. The motivation behind it is Lauren Book's abuse at the hands of her nanny, who was not listed on the public registry. Nothing the Books have advocated would have prevented Lauren's abuse.
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Ron Book wants to have his cake and eat it, too. He wants his residency restrictions yet wants the homeless camps swept under the rug. It is the bad sequel nobody wanted for everyone involved. Once again Miami finds itself the center of international embarassment, and once again, Ron Book is the star of the show.
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More on the Julia Tuttle Causeway/Bookville Saga can be found at Once Fallen.
Privatizing the sex offender registry puts you and your children at risk
The third of my Examiner.com articles.
Privatizing the sex offender registry puts you and your children at risk
Derek Logue
Cincinnati Crime Examiner
Privatization is the latest craze in government. In recent years, a number of government services have been targeted for privatization, including social security, medicare, and prisons. Privatization has many negative connotations associated with the practice, and as a result, controversy and opposition is not in short supply.
In recent months, the Louisiana-based "Watch Systems/ Offender Watch" business is privatizing the sex offender registry. Hundreds of Sheriff's offices and a handful of states have switched over to Offender Watch. The motivation for privatization is simple-- money. Supposedly, contracting business to the public sector saves a few taxpayer dollars.
Is the state of Ohio really saving money by turning over the operation of sex offender data to a private business? I have my doubts. In 2007, when Ohio was debating the passage of the Adam Walsh Act, the legislative fiscal notes indicated the change of the current internet registry (then known as eSORN) would cost $475,000 in one time expenses and $85,000 per year in maintenance. By contrast, under the state of Ohio's current contract with Watch Systems, the state is shelling out $399,000 per year.
In addition, Offender Watch has caused many problems in its short history. In November 2011, 10tv of Columbus reported that hundreds of people were "mistakenly" added to the public registry by Watch Systems:
The state had been working to switch the entire registry operation over to a Louisiana company called Watch Systems.
In early October, the state said the company took control of the search operation of the registry and mistakenly put inaccurate information into the system for all to see, Strickler reported.
The state attorney general's office said the problem was a result of human error.
"There were probably hundreds, but we don't know exactly because we didn't take the time to go through the records individually," said Steven Raubenolt, Deputy Superintendent of BC&I.
I have my doubts this was "accidental." States compete for registry dollars, and the more people on the registry, the more money goes to the state. After all, this is the reason whyFlorida lists long dead sex offenders on their state registry (and perhaps in case they return from the dead).
A second controversy has surrounded the misuse of statistics to justify their existence. Offender Watch-run websites have posted a false statistic claiming "50% of sex offenders re-offend." This stat was extrapolated from yet another privately run registry, Family Watchdog, which recently removed the statistic from the website. Some websites have posted the offending stat while others have posted more lower and more accurate stats (CLICK HERE to view the different web pages for comparison).
One such example of stat inflation was recently reported in Connecticut, where a recent study has confirmed what has been known for mny years-- sexual recidivism is far lower than believed. The Connecticut study found only 2.7% of convicted registered sex offenders repeated their crimes, far lower than the 50% Offender Watch standard. Now, Offender Watch has dropped the 50% stat from many of it's websites.
The thought of privatizing the registry should scare you, since it is obvious they will public advertise fear to sell their wares. Imagine a corporation investing money in promoting laws making it easier to add you or your loved ones to the public registry. Perhaps we'll see sex offender registry stock on the New York Stock Exchange as we currently see with the private prison companies GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America. Worse, imagine contracts to keep the registry ever at full capacity like the private prison industry. In KATU of Portland's March 2012 article on the debate over expanding the registry, the person representing the side of expansion of the registry is Dan Meister who sells--what else-- background checks to paranoid individuals.
The current registry is already bloated as a result of ill-conceived legislation, fear, propaganda, and special interest groups. Adding private business aspects to the registry will only serve to exacerbate an already existing problem with an all-encompassing public registry. How many more people are we willing to sacrifice for this false sense of security?
Ohio Governor's Office, DRC, DYS to host Cincy Collateral Consequences symposium
The second of my Examiner.com articles.
Ohio Governor's Office, DRC, DYS to host Cincy Collateral Consequences symposium
Derek Logue
Cincinnati Crime Examiner
Like many former felons, I have struggled with obtaining gainful employment after completing my sentence and released into society. Despite graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from a major university, I found myself stocking shelves for minimum wage, and it took me seven months to find that job. I was one of the lucky ones, because the jobless rate among ex-felons is roughly five times higher than citizens without criminal records. There is a definite link between unemployment and recidivism, but many businesses routinely discriminate against individuals with criminal records. As the number of US citizens with a criminal record tops 65 million, with nearly 750,000 singled out for inclusion on the National Sex Offender Registry, the need for reintegration programs is integral to reduce recidivism.
Ohio is adressing this problem by hosting a symposium entitled " Addressing Collateral Consequences in Ohio, Part 4: Clearing the Road to Gainful Employment," Held from 10am to 2pm on February 29th, 2012 at The Vineyard Church Healing Center in Springdale, OH.This is an opportunity to address the many barriers ex-felons face in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. According to the event flier, there will be a number of workshops at this event:
"Driver’s License Suspension/Infraction/Indigent Fees - Ohio has many convictions that result in losing driving privileges where there is not a direct nexus to a driving offense - i.e. non-payment of child support, trespassing and shoplifting under $100. This workgroup will focus on the civil and criminal penalties directly associated with this topic.
Fair Hiring Practices/Expungement - This workgroup will focus on employment barriers associated with the State of Ohio’s application process and discussion of Ohio’s expungement process for misdemeanor and felony convictions.
Child Support Practices - Currently child support orders and arrearages continue to accrue while an inmate is incarcerated, even though their income drastically decreases during the incarceration period causing the offender to have less earning power once released, due to the barriers associated with a criminal conviction. This workgroup will focus on changes to arrearages that accumulate while a person is incarcerated, modifications to child support orders and driver’s license suspensions and reinstatement fees associated with non-payment of child support.
Collateral Consequences- Research provided by the University of Cincinnati found Collateral Consequences in more than 800 places in Ohio laws and administrative rules. This workgroup will focus on a system that is publicly available to criminal justice professionals/stakeholders and returning citizens.
Juvenile Justice- Many policymakers do not realize that collateral sanctions impact youth adjudicated to DYS. This workgroup will focus on the breach of confidentiality of juvenile records and the educational needs for youth returning to their communities.
Order of Limited Relief - This workgroup will focus on creating an Order of Limited Relief for ex-offenders who seek relief from mandatory disabilities pertaining to employment and other barriers, in some cases, years after the conviction has occurred."
I suggested there should be a workshop specifically for sex offenders, who face even more restrictions as a result of the public registry, but at the moment there is not anything planned specifically for registrants.
Below is the contact information for more information on this event.
When:
February 29, 2012
10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
(Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.)
Where:
Healing Center Cincinnati
11345 Century Circle W.
Springdale, Ohio 45246
(513) 346-4080
Please RSVP to:
Angi.L.Lee@governor.ohio.gov
No later than February 24, 2012
Ohio Governor's Office, DRC, DYS to host Cincy Collateral Consequences symposium
Derek Logue
Cincinnati Crime Examiner
Like many former felons, I have struggled with obtaining gainful employment after completing my sentence and released into society. Despite graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from a major university, I found myself stocking shelves for minimum wage, and it took me seven months to find that job. I was one of the lucky ones, because the jobless rate among ex-felons is roughly five times higher than citizens without criminal records. There is a definite link between unemployment and recidivism, but many businesses routinely discriminate against individuals with criminal records. As the number of US citizens with a criminal record tops 65 million, with nearly 750,000 singled out for inclusion on the National Sex Offender Registry, the need for reintegration programs is integral to reduce recidivism.
Ohio is adressing this problem by hosting a symposium entitled " Addressing Collateral Consequences in Ohio, Part 4: Clearing the Road to Gainful Employment," Held from 10am to 2pm on February 29th, 2012 at The Vineyard Church Healing Center in Springdale, OH.This is an opportunity to address the many barriers ex-felons face in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. According to the event flier, there will be a number of workshops at this event:
"Driver’s License Suspension/Infraction/Indigent Fees - Ohio has many convictions that result in losing driving privileges where there is not a direct nexus to a driving offense - i.e. non-payment of child support, trespassing and shoplifting under $100. This workgroup will focus on the civil and criminal penalties directly associated with this topic.
Fair Hiring Practices/Expungement - This workgroup will focus on employment barriers associated with the State of Ohio’s application process and discussion of Ohio’s expungement process for misdemeanor and felony convictions.
Child Support Practices - Currently child support orders and arrearages continue to accrue while an inmate is incarcerated, even though their income drastically decreases during the incarceration period causing the offender to have less earning power once released, due to the barriers associated with a criminal conviction. This workgroup will focus on changes to arrearages that accumulate while a person is incarcerated, modifications to child support orders and driver’s license suspensions and reinstatement fees associated with non-payment of child support.
Collateral Consequences- Research provided by the University of Cincinnati found Collateral Consequences in more than 800 places in Ohio laws and administrative rules. This workgroup will focus on a system that is publicly available to criminal justice professionals/stakeholders and returning citizens.
Juvenile Justice- Many policymakers do not realize that collateral sanctions impact youth adjudicated to DYS. This workgroup will focus on the breach of confidentiality of juvenile records and the educational needs for youth returning to their communities.
Order of Limited Relief - This workgroup will focus on creating an Order of Limited Relief for ex-offenders who seek relief from mandatory disabilities pertaining to employment and other barriers, in some cases, years after the conviction has occurred."
I suggested there should be a workshop specifically for sex offenders, who face even more restrictions as a result of the public registry, but at the moment there is not anything planned specifically for registrants.
Below is the contact information for more information on this event.
When:
February 29, 2012
10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
(Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.)
Where:
Healing Center Cincinnati
11345 Century Circle W.
Springdale, Ohio 45246
(513) 346-4080
Please RSVP to:
Angi.L.Lee@governor.ohio.gov
No later than February 24, 2012
Why the Cherokee Nation needs to reject the Adam Walsh Act
This was one of my four articles written for The Examiner before they decided to discriminate against me. So I'm republishing it here
Privatizing the sex offender registry puts you and your children at risk
"Once you're on a publicly accessible registry, your life is pretty much shot." -- US Representative Bobby Scott, during the March 10, 2009 Congressional SORNA Hearing
When I read the article "AG Office warns council on sex offender bill" in the Cherokee Phoenix, I was disappointed to learn that the Cherokee nation is debating the issue of sovereignty versus passing a feel good law that will actually harm many native tribesmen.
The Adam Walsh Act was a stagnant bill until it was championed through Congress by John Walsh and Mark Foley in 2006. The bill bypassed standard Congressional procedure by abusing "Suspension of the Rules," which allows certain bills to pass through legislatures without a full debate or review. Those who voted on the bill did not even know what was in the bill.
The AWA imposes a negative penalty on those who refuse to adopt this bill. For states, this means facing a 10% of Federal law enforcement grants (known as Byrne/JAG). Apparently the negative penalty extends to sovereign tribes as well, as mentioned in your article. However, to give into federal demands would be willingly relinquishing that sovereignty anyway, as they are forcing a bad law upon your tribe.
As of February 2012, 15 states and 9 Native American tribes are "substantially compliant" with the AWA. However, of those 15 states, two of them, Missouri and Kansas, are reconsidering their compliant status. Some traditionally tough-on-crime states, like Texas, California, and Arizona, have publicly stated they have no plans to pass this law.
There are a few major criticisms of this law. The first major criticism is the AWA demands children as young as age 14 to be listed on the public registry. Teens caught in consensual relationships (known as "Romeo and Juliet," or R&J) or "sexting" have landed on public registries across the US. Second, the AWA is expensive, with costs of implementation far outweighing that 10% cuts the federal government imposes on those who refuse to comply.
A major part of the expense of the AWA comes from the reclassification of registrants. When Ohio and Oklahoma changed their registration laws in an attempt to comply with the Adam Walsh Act, the number of people who were listed on the highest tier, the "Tier 3" or "High-Risk" category rose dramatically overnight. In Oklahoma, that number jumped from about 25% to 78% overnight. They did nothing to warrant that change. While most states utilize risk assessment evaluations, the AWA uses an offense-based classification. In other words, the AWA classifies on the basis of how the crime is defined by the state. Instead of streamlining this process across the USA, it has made things worse.
During one congressional meeting in March 2009, a spokesperson for Louisiana stated that a teen having consensual relations with other teens would be forced to register for 25 years.
I should not even have to mention the destructive power of being listed on the sex offender registry. It is a social death sentence. People won't hire you, rent to you, or date you. If you have a wife and kids, they suffer with you. You live in fear of vigilante attacks or politicians passing the next feel-good law against you to pander for votes.
Rejecting the Adam Walsh Act is not about being "soft" but "smart" on crime. Education and prevention programs proven to reduce the prevalence of sexual offending in society do inded exist, like Stop It Now or the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. However, these level-headed programs are ignored in favor of revenge-motivated law enforcement and an industry that sells us a false sense of security.
This list is very expensive to maintain. The state of Ohio reported they spent over $10 million in legal defense and reclassification of registrants as a result of the Adam Walsh Act.Ohio spends $40,000 a month to Offender Watch just to maintain the oline registry. This does not even count the cost of complience checks or notification, just the cost of the registry.
The public registry fails us because we have grown to rely on a list that only shows us at most 5% of the problem. About 95% of sex crime arrests are of people with no prior sex crime arrests. Furthermore, about 95% of those on the public registry never re-offend, but it has nothing to do with the registry. In fact, studies suggest the public registry may actually create an environment that makes people more likely to re-offend.
If the Cherokee Nation wants to protect children, don't adopt the Adam Walsh Act. If the Cherokee Nation wants autonomy from American interference, then don't adopt the AWA.
Learn more about the dangers of the Adam Walsh Act by visiting Once Fallen's Adam Walsh Act fact guide.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Once Fallen at the Cincinnati Ex-Offender Collateral Damages summit
Back on February 29, the State of Ohio hosted an event on ex-offenders and collateral damages, specifically related to employment barriers. As a registered citizen, I have my own concerns about the difficulties facing employment that go beyond the concerns of the average ex-con. I made it a point to be there in hopes of voicing these concerns.
I arrived at the event around 9:30 and met a couple of members of OH-RSOL (I forgot their names, sorry), and we sat together in the front row for the event. The event began with an introduction from a representative from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC), which was followed by three individuals with criminal records who shared their stories. I noted that all three speakers had "petty offenses"-- one was a bad check writer, another one for failing to pay child support, and the third one was a drug offender. It was the trifecta of petty crimes. I suppose I can understand why these individuals would be chosen, since non-violent offenses get more sympathy from the public compared to a more violent crime or a sex offense. It was interesting to note that one of the speakers, the woman convicted of writing bad checks, stated at least she wasn't a sex offender (using on of the "P" words). She's still a criminal, but I digress.
This was followed by a series of presentations followed by a Q&A session. This was my opportunity to express my two concerns:
1. Forcing registered individuals to register employment addresses is a greater barrier to employment. Cincinnati has about an 8.9% unemployment rate, but registrants in Cincy have an 82% unemployment rate. The state of Ohio needs to look at taking employers off the public registry.
2. The state needs programs specific to the needs of registrants and their families, seeing as how we have to live with far more restrictions than the average ex-offender. As a long-time advocate, I could help with creation of such a project.
There was a worker for the DRC who was shooting video of individuals willing to give personal testimony, with the video to be presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I managed to be a part of that, giving my personal story and offering suggestions on how to improve working conditions for former offenders like myself.
I was glad to meet some fellow activists there, and I wish they could have stayed for lunch. My only disappointment was a lack of local media presence.
I hope this will still inspire some change. Below is the Senate Judiciary Committee. Let's encourage them to follow my suggestions:
http://www.ohiosenate.gov/committees/standing/detail/judiciary.html
I arrived at the event around 9:30 and met a couple of members of OH-RSOL (I forgot their names, sorry), and we sat together in the front row for the event. The event began with an introduction from a representative from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC), which was followed by three individuals with criminal records who shared their stories. I noted that all three speakers had "petty offenses"-- one was a bad check writer, another one for failing to pay child support, and the third one was a drug offender. It was the trifecta of petty crimes. I suppose I can understand why these individuals would be chosen, since non-violent offenses get more sympathy from the public compared to a more violent crime or a sex offense. It was interesting to note that one of the speakers, the woman convicted of writing bad checks, stated at least she wasn't a sex offender (using on of the "P" words). She's still a criminal, but I digress.
This was followed by a series of presentations followed by a Q&A session. This was my opportunity to express my two concerns:
1. Forcing registered individuals to register employment addresses is a greater barrier to employment. Cincinnati has about an 8.9% unemployment rate, but registrants in Cincy have an 82% unemployment rate. The state of Ohio needs to look at taking employers off the public registry.
2. The state needs programs specific to the needs of registrants and their families, seeing as how we have to live with far more restrictions than the average ex-offender. As a long-time advocate, I could help with creation of such a project.
There was a worker for the DRC who was shooting video of individuals willing to give personal testimony, with the video to be presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I managed to be a part of that, giving my personal story and offering suggestions on how to improve working conditions for former offenders like myself.
I was glad to meet some fellow activists there, and I wish they could have stayed for lunch. My only disappointment was a lack of local media presence.
I hope this will still inspire some change. Below is the Senate Judiciary Committee. Let's encourage them to follow my suggestions:
http://www.ohiosenate.gov/committees/standing/detail/judiciary.html
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