Have just found out a "group home" is in my neighborhood.

[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.

[paul51]

rent your home out to a pack of about 30 illegal aliens at, oh let's say $500/mo (cash only of course). That will give you about a 150% return per year on your 300K house so you'll be able to afford to live in a more exclusive neighborhood with your new cash cow

[Aracelis]

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.

So what is your solution? Shall we incarcerate or kill them all and let "God sort 'em out"?

Yes, people do slip through cracks in the system. Some people have relapses. That's why responsible, loving parents were created - to help prepare their children for bad stuff that can happen.

Take some personal responsibility in this matter.

[Dolphy]

I feel really bad for your situation. I live in Western Michigan and a few years ago a male sex offender (involving in one case, a child) was released from prison and he was basically run out of the State. The outrage in Grand Rapids was huge, schools even sent notes home to parents. At the time I was surprised by all of the publicity because other offenders are released without the same reaction. Maybe there is something in this you could use.

As for the rest of the residents, I understand you would be uncomfortable. So often those running these homes, either for lack of money or concern, aren't operating them with even the residents safety in mind, let alone the rest of the neighborhood. Since the mayor is in such close proximity I think I'd burden him with some of your concerns, hopefully he will have information that might help you put your mind at ease.

[RecallMoran]

The post spoke in terms of highly to moderately trainable adults. One of the things we learned is to be very careful of language. There is a group home in our neighborhood for Down's Syndrome folks and it blends in well and generally makes good neighbors. However, the reason I suggested FOIA the state for the license is to determine the real population it is serving -- don't rely on what its advocates are telling you.

[Fatalis]

I prefer bidding wars anyway.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

There's always eBay. (P.S. Welcome, or welcome back - whatever the case may be.)

[drhogan]

good luck with this. i put the safety of girls above everything else, but local governments have different values and priorities.
so far, none of my daughers have been victimized, but i see training them about predators as an ongoing process.
as a psychologist, i have worked both with sexual victims and sexual offenders. the serious offenders don't really get better, and they are all over the place (in schools, churches, etc.) so the only solution is training girls in terms of spotting predators and making quick escapes.
unfortunately, this still leaves the untrained girls as victims, but i haven't found any solution to this. the probation department here is very good, but eventually the offenders get off probation (or out of prison).

[OldBlondBabe]

Here's an expanation of this guy's conviction. We're talking about rape of a child.

3rd Degree: includes Penetration plus either circumstance 11, 12, 13
Penalty: Felony; up to 15 years in prison

11. Victim 13, 14, 15 years old

12. Victim’s Incapacity

13. Force or Coercion

a. Actual Application

b. Threats

c. Extortion

d. Medical Treatment

e. Element of Surprise

[Salvation]

Does God love these people too?

What is causing you to judge otherwise?

[Aracelis]

Here's a novel idea: Instead of fretting about it, why don't you go talk to the guy?

BTW, all you have is a description of a class 3 felony - not his specific charges. Go ask.

[Liberty Valance]

Mossberg - 500 series

[Aracelis]

I was wondering how long it would take someone to come up with this lame-brained solution. Yeah, shoot the fellow and wind up behind bars for 20 to life, thus depriving a daughter of her mother. Good solution. < /sarcasm>

[Drammach]

I've been through all the present posts on this thread and none have mentioned one thing you can do..

ENROLL YOUR KIDS IN SOME SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES..

While it's a good idea to avoid trouble, and when possible, leave the area, (run away) sometimes that option is not available..
When circumstances place you (or your 13 year-old daughter) in a situation where "escape" is not possible, curling up into a fetal position will not solve the problem..
SUBMISSION IS NOT AN ANSWER, AND WILL NOT SAVE YOU FROM HARM..

Have your daughter trained to defend herself..
She may have to save her own life someday...

[Aracelis]

Have your daughter trained to defend herself.. She may have to save her own life someday...

Excellent idea. Thank you for reinforcing the personal responsibility aspect.

[Jaysun]

Our neighborhood is restricted, so it's not a good comparison. I would think that residential zoning would prohibit such a place unless they had it rezoned. To do so, they'd have to send letters out to the locals (such as yourself) and invite you to a meeting on the subject.

[Drammach]

As an afterthought, learning how to use a gun properly would also fall under that category..

A 13 yr. old may not be able to carry legally, but could still go to the range and become proficient in the use of..
Far as I know, intruders are still fair game..

[ZOTnot]

I was angry at first blush regarding your post. I DO
consider you to be a NIMBY.

People having mental retardation/ developmental disabities do not typically assault those who live in the neighborhood.

I erased my first post as it may have been TOO angry.

I suggest that it may behoove you, before posting, to accurately check your facts, rather than to rely upon neighborhood innuendo and gossip:

Is it a group home for people with developmental disabilities? Is it a group home for those from the correction's system? Is it a group home for those with sexual offenses making their way back into society?

There is quite a difference, and the stigma of your post perpetuates the 'mixing' of myths regarding 'disorders'

MAYBE if you would VISIT the group home being discussed in the neighborhood, you would be able to discern the truth of your own accord,before asking those without any direct knowledge whatsoever,their opinions.

Flame away.

[tertiary01]

Pedophiles rarely recover, and most will repeat and repeat. I work in Mental Health Forensics, and I know the rates, believe me, they are the original revolving door types, exhibiting good behaviors on the inside and going out to prey on your children when out.

I feel that for the price of a home and the property taxes, someone should not have one of these homes in their neighborhood especially if it was put there without a proper community hearing or notification of the existing homeowners. Do every thing outlined in that one post to get these homes out of your area. Eventually they may evolve to taking violent penal code patients. I don't know about the laws in your states, but it has happened here in California.

As far as opening the State Hospitals, that's where they once were housed before the new Liberal Mental Health Dogma of the 60's and 70's, before the same liberal types decided hey should be mainstreamed in the community. In the last 30 years these programs have been proven failures but the feel-good types in the Mental Health field won't relinquish their power, and it keep lots more people employed with your tax money.

[HAL9000]

Here was a U.S. Supreme Court opinion on use of housing codes and zoning laws wrt group homes -

May 15, 1995 - CITY OF EDMONDS, PETITIONER v. OXFORD HOUSE, INC., et al.

[Aracelis]

Pedophiles rarely recover, and most will repeat and repeat. I work in Mental Health Forensics, and I know the rates, believe me, they are the original revolving door types, exhibiting good behaviors on the inside and going out to prey on your children when out.

Really, you are a forensic mental health care worker? Then you must be familiar with the following paper:

THE PARAPHILIAS, OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND THE TREATMENT OF SEXUALLY DEVIANT BEHAVIORS

J. M. W. Bradford is Clinical Director, Forensic Program, The Royal Hospital; Director of Sexual Behaviours Clinic; Professor of Psychiatry Division of Forensic Psychiatry, The University of Ottawa.

Snip: "The recidivism rate of pedophiles is often exaggerated in order to support a punitive approach, and the media misrepresents the problem by the sensational reporting of child murder cases."

I would suggest reading this entire paper. Perhaps you may pick up a few facts along the way.