Now you want to hear something scary - that headline emblazoned in bold red across the front of the paper is the same one Val will will see and other vigilantes which will give them the fuel they need for their fire ...

http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/jimmy-ryce/review/aboutseries.html

This tells how they got their info.

Boy, that's some shady math...

Well, I think one thing to remember is that these are reporters, not scientists. Statistics that are gleaned only from raw data have limited validity. Probably in the hands of the appropriate professionals, this information would look more like we are used to seeing.

Well maybe so Peek but how many central Floridians that saw this story with a bold red headline on the front t page would know that? Not many I am sure - this was completely irresponsible on the papers part and was tabloid journalism

The article also makes it seem like all people that are convicted of a sex crime are part of this group

They forgot to mention all the other sex crimes that the reoffenders committed and haven't been reported, cause we all know that SO's have multiple victims and they can never be rehabilitated....(dripping with sarcasm).

I had an argument with my very uneducated and very judgemental mother who believes everything that O'Riely and Hannity say, about recidivism and even showing her stats from the stare's own report, she still didn't believe because, "we'll that doesn't count for all the crimes they committed and not reported. And they get arrested for being in a park."

Well duh, if they had kids, yes. She was surprised to hear that and didn't have anything to say....still angry

Well, as has been stated, somebody's wallet is getting fatter off this slimy story. I was trying to point out that this is a misuse of data. It's purpose is to manipulate the general population who does not recognize that.

Stories such as this, that poison the public's perceptions of sex offenders, are a prime example of why not only the registrants on this board but also the registrants whose loved ones post here need to live an exemplary life.

We have to show people that we are not some kind of menacing creatures who terrorize society by stalking victims. We have to educated the public through our actions and appearance.

I am just a normal guy. I don't dress like Donald Trump and I don't live like a millionaire, but I do know how to present myself in a acceptable manner.
What does that mean? Whenever I go out, I make sure I am clean looking, clean shaven, hair cut and combed, clean clothes, etc. Of course, I don't impress anyone with my appearance, but I make sure I do not look like a the stereotypical image of an ex-convict and sex offender.

I speak clearly, say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" (always have), I smile and I look and act anything but a person who went to prison for many years on a sex offense.

I know how to be respectful to ALL people. I always have.

The greatest compliment I have ever received is when people talk and look at me and say, "Hell, how in the world did you get on that registry??" I have had people tell me that many times.

The point I am making is that sometimes we can present to people all the written fact- based evidence, such as the recidivism rate, which has been obtained through various studies and they still are skeptical. But when they SEE with their own eyes that all sex offenders are not trashy, scummy, creepy people, they start to understand the entire situation better.

These are subtle differences that we can make.

rewdiazepam

i agree Peek. And Rew you are correct - My son is a nice young man and he is the first one to hold the door for a women or help an elderly person put their groceries in their car - sometimes when I am watching him I wonder how the person would react if when he was done I said "oh by the way - he is a sex offender" I always wish I could see the look on their faces!