I know personally Florida has been doing this for at least 10 yrs hoping this isn't a national trend.

Apparently, this only affects inmates who have a form of post-release supervision.

Surely the state would not attempt this if a person had discharged his entire sentence in prison and had no paper time after he was released.

rewdiazepam

*sigh* Very depressing!

Depressing doesn't begin to describe it!

That's where I live...and while New York State is using the civil commitment more often many of the towns and localities are deeming the residency restrictions against state policy (with the only restriction being residency (not work nor driving or walking through) an area of 1,000 feet around a school.

Buffalo has done this http://www.communitypapersofwny.com/news/100-City_repeals_sex_offender_law.html.

While this seemed a step in the right direction they are deeming the "freedom of movement" such a risk that they must civially commit the offender due to the danger to the public of a level 3 offender, or perhaps a level 2.

It's still very much playing out to see where it will eventually go.

Sam66, I hadn't thought of the community "backlash" from more freedom of movement being civil commitment. Whew!

All this is based on the myth that SOs can't be cured and will inevitably re-offend. I guess we have the media to thank for that myth.

Although, I can certainly sympathize with parents wanting to make sure they do everything they can to keep their own children safe. One doesn't want to let one's own child be a "guinea pig" to test out whether the myths are true or not.

Back in the 1980s, I gave my oldest child's molester the benefit of the doubt after he told me it would never happen again. I thought I was doing the right thing by not turning in the molester. After all these years, my oldest son continues to state the abuse did stop and never occurred again. So I was convinced all those years that I did the right thing.

However, I learned a few years ago that the same perpetrator also molested my second son around the same time period. My second son had never told me about it at the time. *sigh* Both of these sons are now in prison with long sentences for sex offense convictions.

I have no idea whether an intervention in the 1980s would have made any difference for my sons. Back then, there was no such thing as SO treatment programs or any kind of counseling for my children or for me. Things are so different now.

I still think our society is going about this thing in the wrong way. We're not doing anything to prevent abuse. We need to get into the minds of young people who may be struggling with this tendency and help them get their brains rewired. We don't need to be scaring them into silence by draconian laws and media coverage of the worst of the worst.

I agree w/ HW's last paragraph as my LO was abused as a child, unbeknownst to me. I truely believe the $$$ being spent on incarceration would be much better spent on therapy. The judge and DA had an ax to grind and a point to prove.

read something about this back in july. it scared the crap out of me and made me sick to my stomach. heaven only knows where this is going to stop or end up.

what are those of us who have someone they love serving time for a sex offense suppose to do or think? and the thought that i might not still be around to help my daughter when it's time for her to get out preys on my mind constantly.

this is the article i read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/us/04civil.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I really did not want to hear this. I live in New York State.
EchoMoon, I know how you feel. I am constantly worried about the future. If my son lives long enough to get released (he has medical issues), what if I am not here to help him, (I too have medical issues). So, I think I understand how you feel.

Kitty, it's so hard not knowing day to day.

all my daughter really has in her life is her brother and i. i am so thankful that her brother loves her totally and is 2yrs younger than she is.

he wants to buy property in the county when he is able. and he is making plans for his sister and i to live there too in our own place. this will be a blessing if it all works out. right now the things i am worried about for the future is the restrictions of her probation and the registry. her brother has a 4yro son that has visitation for. so how that is going to work out with her PO is yet to be known. he has no problem and no fears about his sister.

They do the same in Wisconsin too... Most times they figure out something, but in a few instances near by to me they have had to hold people in the county jail until a suitable residence can be acquired. Sometimes it is a residency restriction, but mostly it is because they are indigent, have no one on the outside that can or will put them up, so they are left to the system. I think they do get to leave during the day, but have to report back at night, kinda like Huber. So they can look for a place to live and find gainful employment.

Personally I think it is ridiculous. But then again I have to learn not to be amazed at the utter ignorance and stuipdity that I see surrounding all that deals with the criminal element and those that just mistakenly break the law in society. For some reason I keep having to remind people that most people commit felonies at some point in time or another in their lives and are just not caught. Since I am in Wisconsin, I use drunk driving as a perfect example of how many felons are just walking around free. Because in Wisconsin many people drive around impaired according to the law even if they don't 'feel' drunk. Do that more than 3 times or maybe it is 2 now and you are a Class C felon, same as a child sex offender here in Wisconsin. If they swear they NEVER ever have had drinks and driven, then I use the other wide spread universal, anyone can understand scenario... I ask them, "Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend before you turned 18 here in Wisconsin? Did you kiss them or ever make out with them regardless if you ever took off your clothes?" If they answer Yes to any kind of kissing or touching, they are both Class C felons that have just not gotten caught.

I try to use examples that are common in everyone's growing up, things that we did that if done now would put you in prison (not just sex offenses). I try to get the point across that they could be on that list but by the grace of not getting caught and reported to the police they avoided prison, the registry and a $100/year extortion fee.

We stay away from nosey town people causing trouble, live in the country. My husband was lucky and I already did live out in the country so things have been relatively easy for us. I always recommend a rural area to live to all offenders I talk to, especially those that are considering moving. Some really miss all those conveniences of a metro area, but I assure you, you don't need all that stuff... the only thing I still miss is delivery, sometimes it is nice to have dinner brought to your door, hot and ready to eat, rather than going to go get it like I have to now. :)

another article from NY about residence restriction laws. this law is on hold.

http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/home/id=1202667956003/Suffolk-Sex-Offender-Law-Put-on-Hold-Pending-Appeal?slreturn=20140725200651#comments

just saw this posted and thought i would share it.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/08/25/laws_restricting_where_sex_offenders_can_live_don_t_accomplish_anything.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_top

Rew, this doesn't surprise me at all. My experience leads me to the same conclusion. "No place to live that is safe" = "civil commitment" , then all they have to do is up the residency restrictions.

http://statecasefiles.justia.com/documents/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/08-1728.pdf?ts=1370466526

Alabama used to do the same thing but it was struck down in the courts.