Posted on 09/24/2004 10:17:55 PM PDT by OldBlondBabe
I found out over the summer that a house on my street (just a handful of houses away) is now a "group home". According to another neighbor the residents are "highly to moderately trainable adults". Supposedly there is one adult supervisor there for about every 4-5 residents.
There has already been at least one incident; one of the residents was off his meds, flopping around on the neighbors pool cover and wouldn't leave. I've just recently found out that one of the residents is on the Public Sex Offender Registry---his offense, criminal sexual conduct- third degree (multi variables.)
I live in an affluent suburb of Detroit, in Oakland County. The homes here average around $300,000...it's a nice area.
I'm looking for advice and guidance. I have kids,one of which is a 13-year old girl. Thanks in advance for your help and direction.
Even if they're buyin'? ; )
Your best defense, however, is letting your daughter know what's going on.
Maybe you should join him? Could be fun. :)
I thought that there are some regulations about sex offenders living near children. I would call the police department and ask them.
Life is life, nothing is easy... move or watch your child.... I walk my girlfriend out every morning she has work. I meet her at night when she returns. I make sure she is safe and so too my dogs. Find out what is inside and know your enemies... control the situation, do not let the situation control you. Finally, if you have any cop friends have them park their car in front of your house once in awhile.
With a little help, some of these folks are able to get jobs and become taxpayers.
We had a group home in our neighborhood for "troubled" girls, meaning that they were teenagers who were convicted of something or had antisocial problems. Our once quiet neighbhorhood was infected with all sorts of problems associated with this house, all the while the government denying any problems. We have been through the wars, and they ended up leaving. This is what you need to do:
1. Check the zoning laws now. They will scream about the Fair Housing Act but it only applies to disabled. Sex offenders do not count as disabled.
2. The government will try to blow you off as NIMBYers, especially if you live in an area dominated by liberals. If you are successful at all, they will personally attack you. Be prepared to tough it out.
3. Send in FOIA requests to the local government for police, fire and zoning records. We were shocked to find out how bad it really was. Most of the incidents were kept quiet.
4. Send in FOIA requests to the state. They are required by law to maintain a license and there is a wealth of information in those license applications and files. There is usually an opportunity to comment when it is up for renewal. Use it.
5. Organize your neighborhood and pressure your elected officials. That means speaking at public hearings, distributing flyers and informational newsletters. Be temperate but firm with your language.
6. Take photographs of incidents. They used to overflow the garbage and for some reason that got the attention of the city.
7. You and your neighbors need to write down every incident that occurs for later reference. Write letters to the editor describing the local government's inaction and/or inattention. Bad publicity gets their full and undivided attention.
In our instance, when we first raised it with the city, they all but called us liars who hated children. We insisted the issue was management and we had serious problems. However, the government ignored us. We spent the next several weeks compiling evidence and then demanded another meeting to discuss it. The City Manager smirked that he was busy and thought he had already told us how it was going to be. One of my great pleasures was dropping a 12 inch thick file in front of him with photos, FOIA requests, state issues, etc. I asked him if he wanted to talk or fight, I was ready to do either.
The group home was gone a couple of months later. The key is persistence and a willingness to inflict more pain that they are dishing out. These group homes are used to these battles and believe they can outlast you. By and large, they have advocates in government. Let me know more information. I have been through the wars on this.
Why do you feel that the value of your home and affluence of your neighborhood is relevant to this topic?
Did it drop because the whole wide world now knows that a registered sex offender lives in OldBlond(e)Babe's neighborhood? Isn't that what Megan's Law is all about? So home buyers know what's "safe" and what isn't?
(OldBlondBabe -- in English "Blonds" are masculine, "Blondes" are feminine.)
Prior to our having children and my wife becoming a stay-at-home mom, she managed two group homes of the type you refer to. I'm not proud of the fact that I had severe biases about the whole "group home" concept before she worked there. And it took a little while for me to get comfortable with it. But I can tell you that I came to see that these homes are capable of displaying the very best in us. The true measure of how good a people are can be found by how they treat their less fortunate. 99% of the folks in these facilities are not there because of "bad choices" on their part. They have been burdened with a disability that much of society chooses to ignore, or worse, fear and/or mock. Granted, I share your deep concern about a possible sex offender in those premises. That shouldn't be... not only for the neighborhood... but for the obviously vulnerable people living in that home and I hope (pray) that it is being handled properly. I know it is difficult not to be upset about this "uninvited" addition to your neighborhood, but I hope you'll find peace with it and wish you luck.
Oh, negotiating are we?
Read my post. I asked for guidance. I'm concerned for the safety of my children. We're talking about a CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER WHO APPARENTLY WENT AFTER A CHILD. And if I'm a NIMBY because I don't want a pedophile in my neighborhood, then so be it.
Did you bother to read the post?
It was about retarded adults not "troubled girls" The only problem I saw was the sex offender part.
From what I understand, treatment programs, probation, etc. are pretty rigorous.
Well, that sounds all well and good, but I just recently learned of an incident in a private school where a boy was assaulted in the bathroom by a sex offender who was on probation. He has been arrested. I'm sure somebody decided he wasn't a threat too.
Thank you for your constructive remarks.
Don't take this the wrong way, but the "NIMBY" thing really annoys me.
I live in the Seattle area, and our county executive has decided to export Seattle's homeless problem to the wealthier suburban communities in the form of tent cities.
If I wanted to live in Seattle, I would have bought a house there. Genuinely homeless people who are simply having financial problems are one thing - but I don't want meth addicts, drunks, felons, mentally ill individuals (my own brother was paranoid schizophrenic and it killed him - this is not an issue of a lack of compassion) and sex offenders - almost all of whom have migrated here from other states - living in tents near my house, and wandering my neighborhood. I paid to get away from that when I bought my home on the eastside - and I have the property tax receipts to match. If that makes me a NIMBY, then call me a NIMBY.
Ummmmm...no. LOL
Again, your best defense is to inform your daughter. Most kids get into trouble or get taken advantage of because they weren't prepared AND didn't feel safe talking to their parents about the problem. If your goal is to create an environment free from every care or stress, you are living a dangerous illusion, and your daughter will pay the price someday for being unprepared to meet life.
As to your attitude...you have to live with it. Some people really do recover from pedophilia.
The mayor lives right across the street, you said - don't you think that would have prevented the installation?
I'm concerned for the safety of my children.
That's the same thing the nuts who are trying to shut down Island Lake are saying.
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