HATEBOOK

Cyber-bullying is a growing issue, but one not yet taken seriously. Despite the prevalence of cyber-crimes, cyber-hate, and cyber-bullying, little has been done to prevent or deter it. It took a LOT of public pressure just to get Facebook to remove hate groups denying the Holocaust. Facebook seems to be a cesspool of blind hate and stupidity. From what I've been told, you can find groups and pages on everything on Facebook.

Now, I could personally care less about Facebook. Putiing Mark Sucker-berg's stupid face on Time magazine shows how little we value real contributions to society. The Social Network winning movie awards is an even bigger joke. Facebook is essentially a grown up My Space where adults can cyber-bitch and cyber-complain like it is junior high school. There are no shortage of hate sites on Facebook, which all the more reason for people to get together for promoting hatred. I have enough hate to read without bothering going there.

Facebook technically bans sex offenders from using the website (though it is a TOS violation rather than a national law, though some states make it illegal). However, there is no shortage of Facebook pages to attack individuals on the sex offender registries. Thankfully since I'm no fan of FB, I have friends that are happy to send screen shots to me to show me what I'm missing. Below is one profile's list of groups she has joined pretty much all advocating hatred and violence against those on the registry:

I think it is funny how people keep telling me one common thread between many vocal witch hunters is the underlying misogyny in many of these groups. Not so say men do not get involved, but the majority are women.

Below are a few typical comments and mantras from these hate groups. Somehow, Facebook does not feel the need to remove such hate groups, yet registrants are not allowed on Facebook because of fears they will troll for kids. I'm not so sure people who join these type groups are not involved in criminal activity. At the least, harassment and bullying tactics tend to be the norm:

The group claims what they are doing is legal, yet their goal is to "exile" registrants and make them "extinct." Sounds like threatening behavior to me. As shown by SOI, the "No Peace For Predators" group

This comment is pretty self explanatory. This page also links to that No Peace For Predators page.

A person using a different organization to promote the vigilante and cyber-bully site Perverted-Justice. Speaking of Pee-J, they must not have the money train they once had during their heyday on Dateline NBC. There are a few people who are members of Pee-J on Facebook and who make themselves available to find. I'd rather give props to the counter site Corrupted-Justice, which has Pee-J's number. Perverted-Justice and all its members can go to hell. It is interesting to note on that "causes" page, they have raised no money for Pee-J. That's is hilarious!

My question is shouldn't Facebook be for adults only? If you want to protect kids, keep them off Facebook. That being said, this reeks of Jim Crowe. What next, separate water fountains?

These hate groups tend to support each other. They throw out the "P" words (perv, pred, and pedo), and use terms like monster. This is what you call dehumanization, a common tactic to create virtual lynch mobs and serve only to promote even more online hatred.

Here are typical hate comments from misinformed, uneducated people. The second one is even funnier. If you are a man, you cannot be too friendly with kids lest you be considered a possible sexual predator.

A Perverted Justice troll at work. Even if someone online is a registered person, it does not mean he is trolling for kids.

No Peace For Predators-- Paranoid much? Notice the one comment proudly proclaiming sex offenders should be harassed. They also believe sites that advocate for the rights of former offenders are all "pro-pedophile" websites. They sound a lot like Absolute Zero.

This is merely the tip of the iceberg. There are many hate groups and trolls on Facebook, hating on every subject known to man. However, I'd like to know what these people who run these hate groups hope to accomplish? Some groups, like Perverted Justice or No Peace For Predators, advocate various strong-arm tactics, harassment, and threats to promote their cause. If you disagree with such groups, you tend to be labeled a pedophile supporter/enabler or a pedophile yourself, and attacked en masse. The irony is many use religion to justify their hatred. That is all the more appalling.

Addendum: Thank you SOI for letting me know No Peace For Predators is trying to suppress the video they released showing them harassing a man on the registry.

Untitled from Brian Elfstrom on Vimeo.

"Once a child predator always a child predator."
"You filty disgusting human being-- waste of air."
"We're not sick in the head like you"
"He's still a sexual predator, it does not matter"
"We're going to bring him out on a wagon."
"You can't rehabilitate these people."
"You WILL do it again."

David Rowe admits that the man was not breaking any laws (though I think it is poor judgement on part of the victim) but decided to harass him anyways; they even suggested opening a day care to "flush him out." Personally I would have sold it to Rowe for a profit. I hate how people think they are justified because the guy is on the registry. I see it as a crowd of bullies against one man.

RIP Mary Duval

Cross-posted from the Once Fallen website.

NOTICE: Paypal donations to help cover Mary's final expenses can be made through www.sosen.org, a 501(c)3 organization (Be sure to add a note when you donate). Cards and direct donations can be made to-- D. Logan, 765 Mesa View Drive, Space 24, Arroyo Grande, Ca., 93240.

http://oncefallen.com/maryduval


Mary Duval: A Requiem For A True HeroDerek W. Logue -- June 19, 2011
"Live your life in such a way that when you wake in the morning and your feet hit the floor that Satan shudders and says, 'OH hell, she's awake'." -- Mary's favorite quote, often seen at the end of her posts.

Mary Duval went to be with The Lord on June 19, 2011. She was a dedicated mother and activist, and left behind a lasting legacy through her short life on this planet. Through Mary's tireless efforts and dedication, the difficult issue of legal reform of American sex offender laws to national prominence, and inspired the passage of laws to protect juveniles from a lifetime on the public registry for consensual acts with their peers. Mary successfully fought to have her teenage son removed from the public registry for a consensual relationship with a peer. Mary also helped bring attention to the plight of those former offenders forced to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway in Miami, FL. Mary dedicated her life to this cause even after her son was removed from the registry and the discovery of cancer within her body. She was a true altruist, continuing to work as CEO of www.sosen.org and making public speaking appearances. Mary Duval is a true hero in every sense of the word.

Ricky's Life
"I'm simply a mom who is not going to rest until my child and thousands of others like him are free of the registry which was never meant for teen consensual sex. Watching my son's dreams of being a Navy officer burn to nothing only makes my determination stronger and hopefully I can give him back some of those dreams so he will smile again." -- Mary Duval, June 29, 2007 article

After Mary's teenage son Ricky was listed on the public registry for a consensual act with his girlfriend, Mary founded the website www.rickyslife.com. She began a petition campaign through Ricky's Life and raising awareness through sharing her family's story. Ricky's story spread to many outlets, from the Ethical Treatment of All Youth website to Minnesota Public Radio.

Mary discovered the sex offender reform groups SOSEN and SO Clear Media through her growing network of supporters of her cause. Those who worked with her soon realized they discovered a rare gem. Mary did not let her physical disabilities interfere with her determination. The "little spitfire" felt the pain of many more individuals negatively impacted by the increasingly stringent sex offender laws, and felt called to further action. While she still fought for her son's freedom, which was pressuring the Oklahoma government to reform current sex offender laws, Mary turned her attention to the larger problem of the sex offender registry and the laws it created.

A FIGHT FOR LIFE

"Days have passed since our return home and one thing which remains is the desperation and tragedy in Bryans voice as he reflected on his future under the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Is there any way for me as a mother, an advocate and a human to help these men and women? Daily I work with many who suffer because of these laws and yet should my son and I be thankful we do not live under a bridge? Will this day come? We realize now as we are back home in our trailer with running water and food, a warm bed to sleep in that maybe, even though these laws are destroying our lives and my family is the collateral damage, that we should be thankful for the small blessings we have. These include; a group of advocates and friends who care, a home and, most of all, we have each other. Indeed it’s the small blessings we should be thankful for." -- Mary Duval, Commentary from her trip to the Julia Tuttle Causeway, April 19, 2009

Around the same time Mary began her fight to remove her son from the public registry, there was another crisis forming under the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge in Miami, Florida, as registered citizens were forced to live in deplorable conditions. Mary visited the JTC camp (also called the "Bookville" camp after the controversial lobbyist who created the camp) while in Miami to be interviewed for the Spanish talk show "Cristina." Mary called it "America's dirty little secret." Mary Duval, as co-host of ARC Talk Radio, raised a level of awareness to the JTC plight in a way not covered by the national media. Mary, with host Kevin, interviewed JTC residents and even Ron Book, the lobbyist who supported the 2500 foot residency restrictions that created this crisis. Mary was named spokeswoman for the camp by the residents. Media outlets as far away as Germany and Russia covered this travesty, and Miami was the center of an international embarrassment.

Long after she succeeded in having her son removed from the public sex offender registry, and knowing collateral consequences did not end with removal from that list, didn't Mary Duval continued a run of public appearances: CNN, the 2010 RSOL National Conference, the John Stossel Show, and her meeting with Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids.

As Mary prepared to confront controversial advocate Mark Lunsford at the steps of CNN in Los Angeles in September 2010, Mary's health took a turn for the worse. Mary had suffered from Marfan Syndrome, which had claimed her eyesight, but not her spirit. Now doctors discovered cancer and would undergo chremotherapy. Despite her deteriorating health, she still faithfully performed her duties as co-host of ARC Talk Radio, CEO of SOSEN, and making public appearances. In what would be her final full length interview, Mary made an appearance on Nevada Newmakers in April 2011. Mary's health became critical as she suffered complications from Marfan's and the chemotherapy, and slipped into a coma. She never recovered and was declared dead on the morning of June 18, 2011.

Mary leaves behind her two sons, Ricky and Eric, as well as many followers and supporters. Her dedication, altruism, and fire for this movement are legendary, and she will be sorely missed not just as a fellow sex offender reformist, but as a close friend of mine.

I began working with Mary in 2008 during her days working with SO Clear Media. I knew from the moment we first started working together, she was someone special. Mary Duval is irreplaceable both as an advocate and a dear friend. Mary took the time to volunteer for the National RSO Support Hotline. She was also on my "My Faves" five for years. She was a light to those forced to live under the bridge in Miami, as well as homeless registrants across the country.

Mary IS a TRUE HERO in every sense of the word. I am going to miss picking on her about her dangerous dogs and the Oklahoma Sooners, the weekly sharing of ideas, hearing her voice on ARC Talk Radio, and the times we encouraged each other during our down times. She helped me proofread the Once Fallen book, and promoted it tirelessly. I'll miss the friendly banter during the SO Clear VAT classes; it makes me wish we had recorded them. I believe the best way to honor her is continue her legacy and continue to fight for reform of current sex offender laws.

MORE MEMORIALS:

Another Memorial from the "Walking in my F'ing Shoes" Blog:
http://walkamileinmyfingshoes.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/when-the-trumpet-sounds/

A Memorial Video by Sex Offender Issues Blog:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2011/06/dedicated-to-mary-duvall-of-sosen-you.html

Memorial page from the eAdvocate website:
http://on-suicides-deaths.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-duval-of-sosen-passed-away-this.html

Memorial Page by Free Range Kids
:http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/when-child-porn-isnt-and-the-woman-who-insisted-we-differentiate/

June is False Allegations Awareness month!

“In Stalinist Russia, innocent people were presumed guilty if reported as ‘Enemies of the Motherland.’ They were sent to the Gulag or executed without due process. In the United States of America, citizens are presumed guilty if reported as ‘Domestic Abusers.’...they lost their jobs, their mental health, their reputation, their trust in justice, and their self-esteem.”  -- Natasha Spivack, speaking at the first False Allegations Summit at Washington DC, June 2011

As a recent victim of abuse and a false allegation by a certain mentally ill ex-girlfriend who shall remain nameless, I have become increasingly aware of the plight of individuals, particularly men accused of domestic or sex crimes. I have already discussed the concept of legal misandry in an earlier post. I've also discussed false allegations on my main website. However, in light of recent revelations, I felt the need to address the issue even more.

A recent survey of over 10,000 people compiled by Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) on false allegations revealed that 11% of respondents stated they were falsely accused of a crime, with 81% of those falsely accused, and nearly half were falsely accused of sexual abuse.In an age of increasing paranoia over sex crimes, the likelihood of being falsely accused is a very real possibility, especially in custody disputes.

For more info on false allegations, visit the following websites:

http://www.saveservices.org/false-allegations-awareness-month/

and

http://falserapesociety.blogspot.com/

A Prayer for Mary Duval, a true warrior of this movement

Recently, both Free Range Kids and SOSEN.ORG announced that Mary Duval, the CEO of SOSEN and fiery civil rights advocate, has slipped into a coma from health complications and her chances of survival are less than slim. As someone who lost his mother just this past August, I fully understand the pain the family she may be leaving behind is going through. We rarely have time to grieve while making those final arrangements and trying to figure out where that money is going to come from. Mary's son Ricky, whose own personal experiences with overbearing sex offender laws inspired Mary to advocate for sex offender reforms, will be left behind to help care for his younger brother, who is still a minor.

TO HELP THE DUVAL FAMILY DURING THIS CRISIS, SEND YOUR DONATIONS TO WWW.SOSEN.ORG (Don't forget to earmark it for the Duval family) -- Go through Sosen, not this site, to donate to them.

I've known Mary since 2008, when we worked together at SO Clear Media, creating videos to educate the public about sex offender laws. It didn't take long for me to realize we had a true warrior on our hands (a rarity considering how many people are afraid of advocating sex offender legal reform). It did not take long for people to see that either, because she became the head of SOSEN in 2009 and co-host of ARC Talk Radio. She has made made many public appearances in the national media, but even then made time to deal with my petty ideas, concerns, and projects, including proofreading my eBook Once Fallen. She made plenty of time to volunteer for the National RSO Hotline.

Mary Duval became in every sense of the word the face of this movement. She increased awareness of the plight of those forced to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway camp. The JTC residents named her spokesperson. She even helped convince Bookville (JTC camp) Emperor Ron Book to the ARC Talk Radio show. She has made more public appearances than I can count, from CNN to public speaking appearances to the John Stossel Show.

We were first made aware of Mary's health issues in September 2010, as she prepared to confront the controversial Mark Lunsford on the steps of the CNN building in L.A. Even in her condition, Mary still made it to Washington DC for the SORNA Congressional Hearings and a TV interview for Nevada Public Television.

We can only pray for Mary's speedy recovery at this point. Much like my mother, she's a strong fighter.

Here is another very good dedication post to her, it is a very good read.

Its okay to tell.... the truth about Ron and Lauren Book.

From one exploiter of sex offenders to another: Lauren Book fawns over Mark Lunsford's infamous "Save a child, Hang a Pedophile" badge. I wonder if Lunsford was drunk that day, too.

I have to admit, I flat out despise Ron Book and his daughter Lauren Book-Lim. My faorite memory of Ron Book will always be the day I got Ron Book so angry he was screaming on the ARC Talk Radio (around the 1:35:00 mark) show. I'm not the only one who dislikes the Books, and it is not just because he was the Emperor of "Bookville" (a.k.a. The Julia Tuttle Causeway Causeway Sex Offender Camp). I have an entire article on that saga already, so I won't go too deep into that subject. I will, however, bring up some more of the Book's recent controversies.

Book is currently under investigation by the FBI for issues related to South Florida corruption in politics:

In Broward and Tallahassee politics, influence peddling comes in countless forms. Here's one currently under investigation by the federal government:

A powerful lobbyist, seeking to curry favor with a state senator and benefit a major client, helps to secure the senator's boyfriend a job at the development firm the lobbyist represents. The boyfriend also happens to be a Housing Authority honcho who goes on to oversee two new multimillion-dollar publicly financed projects with the very developer who hired him.

This is one scenario that sources say the FBI is currently investigating as part of a major probe that involves recently convicted GOP fundraiser and lobbyist Alan Mendelsohn, who had deep ties to numerous politicians, including former Gov. Charlie Crist, former Senate President Ken Pruitt, embattled Congressman David Rivera, and state Sen. Eleanor Sobel. The same federal investigation also involves several figures from the massive Mutual Benefits Corp. Ponzi scheme, including MBC fraudster Joel Steinger, who is awaiting trial on federal charges himself.

Here are the players in the scenario:

The lobbyist: Ron Book, who represents a host of governments, including Broward County, and private clients, including the Miami Dolphins, as perhaps the most powerful lobbyist in Florida.

Ron Book apparently has not reformed since his own conviction for illegal campaign contributions in the mid-1990s.From what I've seen, corrupt South Florida politics are par for the course. Maybe that is partly the reason why he remains one of the most sought-after lobbyists in Dade County (in fact, many local news hounds call him the uber-lobbyist). For the right price he'll even represent both sides of the issue (though it is unethical if not illegal).

Well, whats a person to do while his Empire slowly closes in on him? Like Rod Blagojovich and Bobby Jindal, the best way to divert attention is to bring up the sex offender issue. Ron Book is President of an organization that bears his daughter's name (Lauren's Kids). An organization that lobbied for a law named for Lauren which, among efforts to deny the accused the right to a fair trial, also put $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS into an already fully funded program. Book is denying he asked for that money while admitting he asked for TWICE as much. Well, you can always use that money to shelter those Bookville residents now forced to sleep in the parking lots at the Florida Dept. of Corrections:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/nonprofit-run-by-lobbyist-ron-books-daughter-nets-15-million-but-not-for/1169436

TALLAHASSEE — It pays to be the daughter of a super lobbyist, but things can get complicated.

In the final days of the legislative session, lawmakers amended a bill to protect children from sexual abuse that gave $1.5 million to Lauren's Kids, a nonprofit run by the daughter of Ron Book, the Tallahassee uber-lobbyist from Miami.

The problem is, according to all accounts, neither of the Books asked for the money. The bill, HB 215, says the money must be used to finance a 24-hour abuse hotline and pay for sexual abuse prevention education in schools — programs already offered by Lauren's Kids without state funding.

The money the Books did ask for but did not receive: $3 million to finance the cost of relocating victims of sexual assault who are too threatened to remain at home. Instead, the late-session allocation was tacked onto a bill victim advocates had worked on all year. Among other things, the bill limits a defendant's access to child pornography evidence, allows the admission of prior sexual crimes as evidence and ensures the HIV testing of sex offenders.

The House sponsor, Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, says the House objected after the Attorney General's Office raised concerns that the Senate plan to put $3 million into the victims relocation fund would not be enough to pay for relocation of sexual abuse victims. It didn't want to risk running out of money and having to tap funds for a current program that pays for relocation costs of domestic abuse victims. Book and other supporters disagreed, but the House wouldn't back down. "There is no denying our staff had trouble with that,'' Dorworth said. But he quickly added: "The language didn't originate in the House."

No one disputes the issue got attention from House and Senate leadership because it had Book's name attached.

The commenters are showing how South Floridians are catching on to the corruption:

geoteacher May 13, 2011 4:17 PM

Corruption Period! Paying off legislators with taxpayer funding Repbulican friends. What a way to do business. Let's ask Bondi to put them in jail? Nah, can't do that, she is a Republican.

JohnQCitizenMD May 13, 2011 3:55 PM

Shenanigans, period.

seminolebuck1 May 13, 2011 5:05 PM

can you say "bribery"? Ronnie is super scummy!

JohnQCitizenMD May 13, 2011 6:14 PM

Here are your Republicans being fiscal hawks. The area they demand the money be used in (1.5 MILLION) is already being funded without state aid. This is right up there with the Taj Mahal.

sundog May 13, 2011 9:39 PM

another fine example of the florida legislative branch's complete sense of entitlement fueled by self interest and their never ending quest for personal power and especially personal profit.

FL Geezer May 14, 2011 3:21 AM

Let's see. About 20 Large for Hari-dope's Senate campaign gets you $1,500,000 from Hari-dope's "Money Pit." What a country !!!

seminolebuck1 May 14, 2011 11:06 AM

how long is Ronnie gonna milk his daughter's misfortune?

mattgordonmd May 15, 2011 12:08 AM

"It's always going to be difficult when a high-priced lobbyist advocates for or against something, but that doesn't make it bad,'' said Book"

- Ron, you are being disingenuous. The bill that granted your daughter's "foundation" $1.5M did not write itself. Indeed, it is very "bad" when a bill is passed and the author is anonymous. Perhaps it was intended as a "gift" from the state "pot" of spare money? The pols claimed money was tight, budgets were being trimmed, worthwhile programs defunded... yet, there is a "pot" of money not yet allocated?

With very few exceptions, this is the most untrustworthy group of legislators Florida has had the displeasure of being violated by in a long time. If their sociopathy continues at this pace, then the next session should be held at the mental hospital in Chattahoochee.

Realist 1 May 17, 2011 7:58 AM

It is not his daughters Ron is the president of the non profit.

Follow The Leader: As usual, Daddy Book takes charge, with Lauren behind him.

One of the happiest days of my life will be the day all those corruption finally catches up to Ron Book. At a time when the economy is at an all time low, do we need to give our money to rich (and corrupt) people who can blow a cool million on a wedding that barely lasted a full year while rubbing it in to those they forced to live under bridge? I'd like to "walk in your shoes" but I'm not a rich family, just another guy with a criminal record. Well we have ONE thing in common.

More privatization of the justice system

Last month, I wrote an article about the privatization of prisons. That is only the tip of the iceberg. Private companies will also be handling GPS monitoring in California, and companies like Offender Watch Systems is taking over public registries in many locations. All this privatization implies lowest bidder, corner cutting, and less oversight. As bad as the government is at targeting those forced onto public registries, corporate/ private business interest is downright scary.

Think about it-- the business has a vested interest in keeping business alive. There is a wealth of information to suggest the registries cause the social ostracism which increases the likelihood of re-offending, so why would a private company concern itself with rehabilitation and effective measures of reducing crime?

On the Offender Watch corporate website, it says, "Together, Appriss and Watch Systems are providing services covering nearly 70,000 sex offenders, about 15 percent of the registered sex offender population in the United States." Actually, it is less than 10%. Business is booming, after all, especially with their systems making the claim they are "Adam Walsh Act compliant."

"Appriss currently notifies residents and businesses when registered sex offenders move into their neighborhoods. Its solutions also locate non- complaint offenders and update at-risk agencies of registered sex offenders in their area via phone, fax, or e-mail. Appriss will now be able to tap into Watch Systems' OffenderWatch® to enhance law enforcement's ability to track offenders' whereabouts." I'm curious how they locate non-compliant registrants. After all they are only a database. They also pimp iris scan technology. I am curious as to how an iris scan will prevent crime. Again, remember OffenderWatch is a business.

Consider this quote from the Houston Chronicle: "'You can easily see how it goes from iris scans for registered sex offenders to iris scans for all felons, to iris scans for everyone who is convicted of a misdemeanor, to iris scans for anyone who is arrested,' said Melissa Ngo, director of EPIC's identification and surveillance project." It reminds me of the registry itself. We are seeing more offenses added to the registry with every legislative session, while new registries from violent offender to dangerous dog registries exist across the US. It makes me wonder what else applied only to sex offenders will expand in due time, given people have been willing to accept intrusions of their rights for the sake of security.

There are a few questions I have. What does Offender Watch mean by "Geographic Risk Assessment?" Studies have already proven where a registrant lives is irrelevant. Why is there no disclaimer against abusing the registry info? What is a "Geo-Address Scrubber?" Sounds like some kind of Swiffer-style cleaner. My favorite is the "Fireworks Safety" PDF-- what does firework safety have to do with sex offenders? Don't shoot fireworks at home; instead, get on the sex offender registry.

I wonder if Watch Systems, LLC will offer stock someday, like GEO Group has. That is a disgusting thought. I'm sure there will also be paid lobbyists designed to keep more low-risk offenders on the registry. The corporate takeover of the Justice system is a very scary thought indeed.

Legal misandry: The true silent epidemic

Domestic violence laws are controversial in many ways, primarily because of the low standards required and the gender discrimination against men. Men are already seen as potential predators by many victim's groups. It is socially acceptable to cast men as potential predators. Child victim advocate John Walsh even advocates not hiring male babysitters because men are all potential pedophiles in his eyes. Maybe he just feels that way because he has battled sexual addiction over the years. No one questions that belief, and as a result, men must face uphill battles in defending outlandish accusations of abuse of any kind in court, be it sexual abuse of a child or against a protection order against a woman.

Our society has been inundated with Radical Feminist propaganda for many years. Popular culture has romanticized the concept of vigilantism against "abusive men" in movies like the Feminist film Thelma and Louise and Sleeping with the Enemy, and in songs like Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmyth. Lorena Bobbitt was exalted by Feminist groups and other extremist "domestic violence advocates." Just type in the word "battered" in Google and the first results to come back include "battered woman's syndrome," "battered wife's syndrome," and "battered woman." There is a "battered men/ husband's syndrome," but to be honest, even I am surprised anyone has ever coined the term, and I doubt this has ever been used as a defense in court (the technical term is "Battered Person's Syndrome," but again, the term is generally applied to women). Do not not forget the discrepancy in sentencing for men and women are significantly different as well, with women getting shorter sentences for similar crimes as men.

There is probably no greater discrepancy in the gender gap in the area of domestic relations. Allow me to introduce a perfect illustration. Lets say you've been in a relationship for so many years to a woman who has a clinical diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depression, has paranoia, and a family history of schizophrenia. She believes all men are indeed brutish, violent, and prone to cheat. As the man in this relationship you are subject to interrogations, invasive searches, and constant surveillance without ever giving the woman a reason to believe you are a womanizer or abuser. You are "walking on eggshells" as your every action becomes suspect. If a woman that isn't wrapped up like a Muslim wife in public, she would go on tirades about the perceived trashiness of the woman and accusations of lust for the woman of loose morals are directed at you. You reach a point in your relationship where you want out because you are tired of feeling like you are the subject of an FBI investigation rather than a loving hubby/ boyfriend/ fiancee.

When you two break up, she calls the police on you and makes a wild accusation. The police hassle you but they don't arrest you because you did nothing wrong (but as they see it, they "haven't caught you"). You pack up her things and leave them at her place in neat little boxes. A few days later you get a knock at the door; it is a sheriff's deputy handing you a restraining order. You feel a sinking feeling in your chest as you are treated like you just murdered someone. In 2 weeks you go before a judge and plead your innocence. The "ex" paints a picture of you as some kind of "monster," and the female judge accepts her on her word only. The judge rules against you. You have no defense. You are a man, after all.

How many times has this scenario played out in court? There is no telling. Men are the "stronger" sex, after all. Men do not report domestic violence against them because of many reasons, including a fear of a 911 call turning against him, fear (mostly of being accused of being abusive himself), societal disbelief, and shame. You can even say it seems like a joke, the thought of a big, burly guy whipped by a 5'3 woman. The cultural belief favors the woman, and many women know it. As a result, arrests of female abusers are rare.

There is another element of abuse that is not considered, though is often used in defense of women abused by men. Women tend to be more emotionally and psychologically abusive (though some were physical). Some women abuse their men through the legal system that favors women in domestic laws as well. It is far too easy to traumatize a man through a false allegation in the domestic civil courts, where only a "preponderance of the evidence" (a low standard of proof suggesting the allegation is "more likely than not" something happened) is the standard by which you are labeled and condemned. It is hard to prove psychological abuse, and as a man it seems the standard is unconsciously raised to "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt."

I have experienced firsthand the impact of psychological and emotional abuse from a woman. It is essentially the same as "Asymmetrical Warfare." Asymmetric warfare, in a nutshell, is the use of tactics to compensate for being the weaker force in a war, like Guerrilla Warfare or terrorism. A series of small scale attacks compromise the will of a larger force. perhaps the term "war of the sexes" has merit. I have suffered the long term effects of abuse, but as a man, I really have nowhere to turn. There are no "battered men's shelters," no assistance programs for men displaced by leaving his abuser, or even a support network. Equality is a myth.

Radical Feminists have been called "Feminazis." In light of many things they have stated publicly, I can see why Radical Feminism is seen with such disdain, yet their views are accepted in culture and the courts. It is not about "equality" of the sexes, it is a matter of usurping power. Ironically, Radical Feminists become the very evil they are claiming to fight. The symbol of the justice system is a scale, not a pendulum. Equality is a balance, but the Radical Feminists Courts are a pendulum. It takes more men willing to speak out against their abusers. We must not continue to suffer in silence.

How Ironic: Comments from alleged advocates for children

I find comments in message boards across America quite contrary. I work specifically on sex offender issues, so I'm never surprised by the typical comments that go along the line of "kill/ rape/ brand all sex offenders." What I find even the more ironic is this venom coming from people who claim to be anti-rape. Am I the only one seeing the irony in all this? Why would any person or group so opposed to rape advocating prison rape or other violent crimes? I'd love an explanation.

Two wrongs do not make a right. To say you oppose rape but support rape is hypocrisy.

I think there should be a few rules of commenting for these individuals.

But all those who comment on the boards, please do me a favor. Please learn to spell. A "pedifile" is a file for your feet. Please don't use your "assoicats" degree from the University of Phoenix as credentials. I have a Bachelor's degree from Athens State University. It may not be Harvard, but it's an accredited university. I graduated cum laude. If your GPA is above 3.5 like you claim, please use Latin. Also, I'd prefer you offer something to the debate instead of the same tired comments; references to actual studies is a plus. Also, I stand by my comments publicly, so please do the same. If you are so right and I'm so wrong, why hide your identity? It makes me think you're hiding other things. I guess it would be too much to ask those attacking me personally to actually read my website rather than attack sites. I stand by every word I say.

That is all. Thank you.

PS: If you still don't like me, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Derek Logue is winning

"The only thing I'm addicted to right now is winning." --Charlie Sheen

Hated celebrity Charlie Sheen is not the only one out there "winning." Winning is a relative term at any rate, depends on what we are competing for and what is the ultimate goal.

In my case, my ultimate goal is being an online advocate for the reform of criminal laws, and particular sex offender laws, to emphasize the rehabilitative aspect of law and to promote healing for both offender and victim. Since I don't advocate the "kill all sex offenders" mantra that many of the common citizens do, and because I am a member of this group forced to disclose my private information for the public eye to scrutinize, that generally makes me the bad guy in the eyes of a lot of people. Most of these people make assumptions and draw on sites run by people who get their kicks from creating falsehoods about people and making three a.m. death threats over the phone. It goes with the territory.

I've been advocating changes to these laws since 2004, and since the end of 2007 I have become a highly visible (and hated) figure. It is amazing how we can make assumptions and hate without knowing anything about a person, just a label. Its almost laughable to see the accusations if only people did not believe it because of my label. I've never tried hiding the label. In fact, much like people who have "owned" the "N" word, I have overcome the label society places upon my. I am "winning."

So I'll play Charlie Sheen for a moment and dissect the arguments of one of my detractors, the idiotic Shoalanda Speaks.

hXXp://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/search/label/Derek%20Logue

First point: Troll-anda Spews, in addressing me and other activists who call for reform of sex offender laws, says this on April 4, 2011:

The garbage that these advocates preach concerning children is so sickening that we chose not to finish the blog

It is interesting that she considers treatment for both victim and offender "sickening." Lets look at a few of my "sickening comments:"


I believe sex crimes should be punished. If you want more jail time, fine by me. My problem is with the treatment of offenders after they have finished their sentences. If you commit a sex crime, you should serve time, whatever the state allots. But if (or when) a sex criminal is released, efforts must be made to successfully reintegrate the offender back into society to minimize risk of re-offending. Also, society lacks preventive measures and available counselors to deal with sexual issues before they become sex crimes. It is not about condoning behaviors, it is about minimizing risk.

So Shoalanda thinks punishing sex crimes and calling for rehabilitation programs to minimize recidivism is "sickening." As a matter of fact, I wrote an entire "sickening article entitled "Prevention 101:"


http://www.oncefallen.com/Prevention101.html

Principles of Prevention
Prevention means finding a way to keep sexual violence from occurring in the first case. I believe it IS
possible to find prevention strategies that work. But we have to approach this problem with an open mind.
There are two great websites with prevention as its focus (as you can see from these sites, its about being
“smart” rather than “tough”):

• www.stopitnow.org
  
• www.jwf.org (NOTE: recently the Jacob Wetterling Foundation has become the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, www.jwrc.org, and some of the below pages referenced are NOT AVAILABLE at this time

Holy Shiitakes! I'm promoting pro-sex offender sites! Its all downhill from there:

Prevention strategies exist today, but for some reason, we choose to neglect them in favor of punishment strategies
for former offenders, strategies which fail to address preventing strategies. The Jabob Wetterling Resource Center
and Stop It Now! are two fine examples of prevention and treatment oriented approaches which will prove effective
in reducing sex crimes. These strategies teach principles of responsibility, accountability, penance, honesty,
education, vigilance, and most of all, balance or moderation.
Regarding former offenders, there are prevention strategies available to keep former offenders from offending
again. Restorative justice (accountability and empathy training), identifying sexual assault cycles, and developing
relapse prevention plans are tried and true methods of reducing recidivism amongst former offenders. These
treatments have been shown to reduce both general and specific recidivism by at least half, and recognized to be
effective by leading researchers like Karl Hanson.
However, in order to effectively implement these prevention strategies, we must address and reform the many
obstacles in our society: The mass media, politicians, myths and misconceptions, our emphasis on retribution and
punishment, CAPTA mandatory reporting requirements, lack of professionals, and our contrary fear/ fascination of
sex. Only by approaching the subject openly and honestly can we have any hope of preventing sexual violence.

Imagine that, promoting empathy and accountability in those who have sexually offended is "sickening?" That's nothing, check out these two "pro-sex offender" books I promote on my "recommended media" page:


http://www.oncefallen.com/multimedia.html

HANDBOOK FOR SEXUAL ABUSER ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT (2001) BY: Mark S.
Carich, Ph. D., and Steven E. Mussack, Ph. D.
Description: (From the Safer Society Press) Safer Society is pleased to publish this long-awaited
compendium. With chapters from William Marshall, Robert McGrath, Emily Coleman, James
Haaven, Alvin Lewis, Laren Bays, William Murphy, Peter Loss, Jerry Thomas, and Gary Lowe, as
well as from the editors and others, this volume provides an essential basic outline of
comprehensive treatment--the perfect introduction and reference volume that should be on every
clinician's shelf.Ordering Info: CLICK HERE to order from Safer Society Press or CLICK HERE to order from
Amazon.com. No Kindle version available.COMMENTS: A collection of articles on treatment, victim empathy, evaluating and treating
offenders, and other issues related to treating offenders.

HELPING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE (2006) BY: Lynn Heitritter and Jeanette Vought
Description: (From the publisher) How do we minister to victims of sexual abuse? It's a difficult
problem for Christian communities. This solidly biblical and sensitive guide is packed full of helpful
information that provides a valuable perspective on how abuse affects children and the family
dynamics that play into its development. As well, readers will also discover practical tools that can
lead adult victims into full recovery in Christ. Required reading for everyone who wants to bring
meaningful ministry to those affected by sexual abuse.Ordering Info: CLICK HERE to order from Bethany House or CLICK HERE to order from Amazon.
com. Kindle Version Available!COMMENTS: This is a good book on helping victims of sexual abuse recover from the effects of
the abuse from a Christian perspective, and it deals with many issues dealing with forgiveness and
views of God following abuse.

Oh yeah, my front page disclaimer:

ONCE FALLEN DISCLAIMERS
The purpose of this site is to educate the public on the truth on sex offender
laws and to offer support and guidance to those accused or convicted of sex
crimes. This site does not promote, condone, or tolerate illegal activities
nor any "pro-pedophile" agenda or groups such as NAMBLA. This site
DOES believe in punishment for illicit sexual activity, so long as it is coupled
with treatment and Restorative Justice. This site promotes education and
prevention programs coupled with treatment and successful reintegration of
those who have served their sentences as the only effective method for the
successful reduction in sexual violence.
An example from this blog:

http://once-fallen.blogspot.com/2009/11/of-myths-and-monsters-plague-of-sex.html

Most importantly, we need to honor victims by helping victims of sex crimes overcome the crimes committed against them. These days, if a victim forgives his or her attacker, many people look at them like they are crazy. What good does keeping victims thinking about what happened to them and the guilt and anger they feel rather than dealing with those feelings? The result is many more lives remain broken rather than healed, making them lifelong victims rather than “Thrivers.”

Helping victims of sexual abuse overcome the negative effects of the abuse is also sickening? Somehow I don't think people see it that way. I am winning this round.

Here's an interesting comment Trollanda makes in the same post: He objected to our remark that all sex offenders should literally be branded as such.

Ironically enough, children have been targeted because of Trollanda's mentality. In fact, we've put children themselves (some as young as age 9) on the public registry:


http://www.solresearch.org/~SOLR/rprt/JSOs.htm

http://www.oncefallen.com/CriminalizingTeenSex.html

But we also forget that family members and even children of registrants are also attacked:

http://www.opd.ohio.gov/AWA_Information/AW_levenson_family_impact_study.pdf

Family members living with an RSO were more likely to experience threats and
harassment by neighbors. Children of RSOs reportedly experienced adverse consequences
including stigmatization and differential treatment by teachers and classmates. More than half
had experienced ridicule, teasing, depression, anxiety, fear, or anger. Unintended consequences
can impact family members’ ability to support RSOs in their efforts to avoid recidivism and
successfully reintegrate.

Has Trollanda not heard the expression "violence begets violence?"Has all the vigilante violence targeting those on the public registry impacted sex crime rates? The evidence states the opposite. (By the way, sign the "Stop Vigilante Violence Act HERE). Shoalanda Speaks out her tail end, apparently, while I continue to trump her arguments. Logue 2, Trollanda 0.

I guess I should tell her that calling me a "pedophile" is slander and makes her liable to being sued, seeing as how I not only have never been classified as such by Alabama, I have not had sex with a child nor have I been clinically diagnosed with pedophilia. Maybe Trollanda needs to get her facts from people OTHER than Pensacola sex offender Clay "Roar For Truth" Keys and Sheffield Prosecutor BT Gardner (I wonder is Shoalanda supports Gardner's defense of a man accused of rape. Hm). Logue 3, Trollanda 0.

Trollanda's obsession with me is so great, she comments on my move to Cincinnati for budget reasons. Yes, Sheffield, Alabama utilities exceed Cincinnati's by at least twice as much. But you see, I only moved to The Shoals because I was engaged. It fell through, so I saw no reason to stay in a place lacking public transportation and extremely isolated from the modern world. Sorry, Trollanda, not everyone finds your isolated community a nice place to live, especially the large numbers of young people leaving it for greener pastures. Only an idiot like Shoalanda can't do the math. Logue 4, Trollanda 0.

Another Trollanda rant: Logue would like us to believe that he and others like him are changed. What his writings actually do is portray such a twisted individual that we can't blame those who live nearby this Sheffield "activist" for wanting rid of him.

I don't care about being disliked by neighbors in that cesspool of depravity. There is a reason The Shoals is a dying, withering community. It is funny to suggest my writings make me twisted. If I am twisted for saying sex offender laws need reform, then what does that say about all those people (Shoalanda included) who advocate violence, mutilation, and murder? Shoalanda wants to brand people, after all. I have always found it ironic that the very people who advocate for the end of violence advocate violent actions to promote their cause. I'm winning again, 5-0.


Well, to Shoalanda Speaks's credit, she does make a couple of disclaimers:

Obviously, we hear and read much that can't be proved [sic], but we do usually manage to present the known facts to our readers. (Geez, it's "can't be proven," not "can't be proved." I guess those portable classrooms WERE detrimental to children's education in Alabama after all. But the English language has a word for it-- RUMORS. Rumors are what you pay for them-- nothing. I heard plenty of gossip in the Shoals. Like I heard BT Gardner is an alcoholic and has been chased out of prosecutor positions in other cities like Tuscumbia (a rumor told to me, ironically enough, from a couple of people who work with him), or the rumor that Elvis, Osama Bin Laden, and Tupac Shakur are on the same Caribbean island sipping a Corona and laughing at the death money rolling in. Only problem is, Trollanda and other wannabe crime bloggers love to throw rumors out there as issues of fact.

the rumor mill can't dissolve many facts:

FACT: I have been out of prison over eight years and have not been accused of any sex crimes.
FACT: I have been given a partial pardon from the State of Alabama since the state looks at my actually actions, not what online trolls like Shoalanda thinks of me.
FACT: Despite how Trollanda Spews her filth and makes implied threats, I can move back to The Shoals if I wanted to. However, I didn't like it any time BEFORE I was added to the public registry, feel free to ask my ex-wife/ fiancee BRANDI, who Shoalanda targeted in her blog last year. Shoalanda put a mother and child in harm's way without a thought. Careless? Yes. Stupid? Without a doubt. My beef with her stemmed from attacking Brandi, not her criticism of me. Now, I can care less. But unlike her, I'm not afraid of being public. Again, I am winning.


Shoalanda is not the first or last who will try to slander, discredit, or bully me into submission. I'm still here, and most of my detractors are gone (WASP Ohio, Wikisposure, and certain other random 3 am phone callers). Charlie Sheen is goofy, but I like some of his quotes. Love me or hate me, I continue to win.

PS: According to Alexa.com, I'm beating Trollanda there too:

Shoalanda Speaks: Rank #10,348,935
Once Fallen: Rank# 4,057,021
My anti-AZU blog: #5,095,681
This Once-Fallen blog: #4,611,504

Take that, Trollanda! Tell that to Karen.

GEO Group and the Big Prison industry

“What happens if you privatize prisons is that you have a large industry with a vested interest in building ever-more prisons.” -- Molly Ivins (Pulitzer prize-winning Reporter and author), 2003

I have never cared much for the stock market. I am usually more concerned with ERAs than IRAs, and Fox Sports than Fox Business. However, two things piqued my sudden interest in that otherwise dull subject: crooked lobbyist Ron Book lobbying for expanding private prisons in South Florida, and seeing billboards in Texas advertising for GEO Group.

What is GEO Group? GEO Group, once known as Wackenhut Corrections Corporation, is a private prison business. A for-profit industry. A private prison with stock you can buy. Amazingly enough, GEO Group's stock is actually on par or higher than many other high-profile companies that many of us actually use every day:

Stock Quotes as of April 29, 2011
GEO Group, Private Prison Industry -- 26.68
GE, Appliance and mechanics industry -- 20.45
Pfizer, Prescription drugs -- 20.97
Ford, car maker -- 15.47
Microsoft, computer software -- 25.92
Yahoo! Search engine -- 17.46
Kroger, grocery stores -- 24.31
(as an aside, GEO is beating Corrections Corporation of America, its larger rival -- 24.89)

Interestingly, GEO Group's stock jumped significantly from about 5.00 back in 2003, spiked over 30.00 in late 2007, dropped as low as 14.00 in 2009, and now it is nearly at 30.00 again as of writing this article.

What's the big deal about privatizing prisons? You ask? Think about that quote by Molly Ivins.

First off, in any industry, there are businesses available that compete for your money. Now, I admit economics is not my forte. However, I know that Wal-Mart has been given a reputation of being the big bully company that wipes out small town businesses and imposing a monopoly in many small towns across the USA. GEO Group is growing. It has acquired Correctional Service Corporation in 2005, Cornell Corrections in 2010, and Behavioral Interventions (an electronic monitoring company) in 2011.

Being the lowest bidder generally means cutting corners. GEO Group has amassed over half a million in fines alone while maintaining a severely understaffed facility and paying guards just a cut above minimum wage. There have been been numerous complaints of inmate abuse and poor conditions in the private prisons, but since they are "just prison inmates, who cares, right? Getting back to Ron Book's South Florida, when GEO Group was known as Wackenhut, the state was overcharged by millions, which all came out of taxpayer wallets. In fact, the former Florida head of Wackenhut was recently arrested for racketeering. Considering Ron Book's track record of corruption and controversy, it is no surprise he lobbies for such a group. What's next? Maybe he'll represent the Bad News Bengals next.

Who cares, right? Think about it. The US has the largest prison population in the world in terms of numbers and per capita rates. An astounding 3.1% of adults in the US have criminal records, and one out of every 99 US adults are incarcerated right now. It is little wonder why prison is a big industry; after in, in many states, spending on prisons compete or exceed the funding for education. Most of these people are going to get out only to be socially ostracized to the point where committing crimes become almost a necessary survival component. There is no incentive to rehabilitate the offender, because no repeat customers is bad for the industry. You merely make a prisoner a better criminal. That, my friends, is Capitalism at its finest.



Feel free to check out the following sites for more on the pitfalls of privatization of the prison system:

http://www.privateci.org/index.html

http://www.texasprisonbidness.org/

As an aside, I wonder why the USA only tends to rank high on the bad stats. We are getting beat in many positive areas by European nations. Norway's prisons are so much unlike America's prisons. I wonder why Norway's crime rate is so much lower than ours. Could it be tough on crime is backfiring?