Ala county rounding up sex offenders on Halloween

[Liberal_in_LA]

Ala county rounding up sex offenders on Halloween

A southeast Alabama county is trying to round up all its convicted sex offenders on Halloween night to make sure they can't come in contact with children who are out trick-or-treating.

The Russell County Sheriff's Department is requiring about 35 sex offenders who are on probation or parole to come to the county courthouse in Phenix City on Monday night for a mandatory meeting, and they could be charged with a parole violation — which can lead to jail time — if they fail to show up.

Authorities are asking the county's 115 other registered sex offenders to come to the meeting voluntarily. Sex offenders must pay $20 a quarter to register in the city and county, and anyone who shows up voluntarily will get a free quarter, said Laurie Franklin, an administrative aide to Sheriff Heath Thomas.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/27/state/n111740D61.DTL#ixzz1c0m8fkSr

[louis-t]

1. I misread, thought they were offering them a quarter

to show up. Sheeesh!

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. While they're at it, why don't they have all the parolees and ex-cons of all other crimes check in

Voluntarily, of course. :silly:

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. that crossed my mind - why not have people conviced of shoplifting

check in on big shopping days?

[lpbk2713]

4. Attn: Sheriff Heath Thomas

Be sure to round up all rethuglicans on election day.


Thanks.

:eyes:

[cliffordu]

6. DUZY!!!!!!!

:rofl: :bounce:

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. LOL! but they all vote by absentee.

but good idea

[dtexdem]

5. Can they come in costume? Will they get a party?

Will there be games like waterboarding for apples?

"I was there, parole officer -- I was the one in the Bishop costume."

[Laluchacontinua]

8. I've never understood how a sex offense became a life sentence.

If they're that dangerous, keep them locked up.

Otherwise, their sentence should be done when their sentence is done.

I don't see any evidence that this policy reduces sex-crime, either.

On edit: I also think that the policy makes re-offense more likely in some ways: if you can't get a job & have to wear a scarlet letter (which is what the registration policy does, brands you as sex-criminal in the newspaper & to your neighbors) -- you're more likely to be depressed, angry -- both of which lead to a "what-the-hell, nothing matters, no future, i may as well do what i want/take my revenge" attitude.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. horrible crime but they seemed to be punished more than murderers

[Wait Wut]

9. Years ago...

...the town I was living in (back in IL) did this, but they actually had a Halloween party for the offenders. Not sure how much "fun" it was, but it was better than making them sit around in a mandatory "meeting".