Posted on 02/26/2006 5:16:46 PM PST by goldstategop
For years, California politicians have touted crackdowns on sex criminals to promote themselves as tough on crime. But recently, in a riveting investigative series, The Sacramento Bee confirmed what many had feared: California has among the most lenient laws in the nation toward sexually violent predators, society's life-wreckers. Gaping loopholes in California law let hard-core sex criminals committed to Atascadero State Hospital choose whether they want treatment. Almost none choose treatment, and after a breezy two-year stint, they are released from Atascadero — usually unmonitored, by lax courts.
As the Bee noted, the loophole is "precisely how 54 rapists and child molesters won release through the end of 2005 from their Atascadero commitments."
Chronic molesters are wily. They spend as much time wooing parents into feeling safe as they do plotting to abuse their children. They fool juries. Fighting back, many states have made incarceration for sex crimes much tougher to get around.
Yet the Sacramento Legislature actually protects loopholes for sex criminals. The spectacle of it in recent years has become unnerving.
Last year, KCRA-TV (Channel 3) in Sacramento reported that one loophole, called the "opt-out" clause, granted 2,677 sex offenders "an exclusion" from being named on the attorney general's Web site. Legislators created the loophole, insisting that offenders found guilty of misdemeanors aren't that dangerous. The truth is, nobody knows how many of them are wily chronic offenders who sneak under the radar.
Last year, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, essentially argued that misdemeanor sex criminals just need jobs. As quoted by KCRA, Leno said, "If you deny them secure housing and deny them an opportunity to get on their feet and get a job and to be able to move forward for themselves and for their own children, they're more likely to reoffend, not less likely."
Good Lord. Sex crimes are not caused by economic troubles.
It was Leno, once again, who oversaw the demise last year of a bill to close the horrific Atascadero loopholes delineated by the Bee.
Senate Bill 864 by Sen. Charles Poochigian would have extended the two-year "civil commitment" at Atascadero to an "indeterminate" length. Democrats in the Senate found it too strict, but Poochigian worked out a compromise. SB 864, approved by the Senate unanimously, required that sexually violent predators
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spend seven years at Atascadero.
To the shock of many, the bill was killed by Mark Leno and his two equally ultraliberal colleagues, Los Angeles-area legislators Jackie Goldberg and Lloyd Levine, in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
Now, in an election year, Leno and many Democrats tout his Assembly Bill 50 as the best way to increase penalties on molesters. Republicans, angry about Sacramento foot-dragging, are touting a much tougher November ballot measure, Jessica's Law.
Early on, AB 50 was filled with loopholes that would make your skin crawl. For instance, Leno provided an "exemption" from felony charges if a suspect was caught with fewer than 100 pieces of child pornography. In a creepy all-time low, Assembly Democrats voted for Leno's plan to go soft on child porn.
Political analyst Pat Caddell, a longtime Democrat, tells me: "What the Democrats did on AB 50 was insane, insane — 100 exemptions for child porn? They had to figure out this was not good? If this seeps into voters' minds, my God."
After a ruckus, Leno made his bill much tougher. Sen. George Runner of Palmdale, a frustrated Republican, tells me, "What drove us to the ballot with Jessica's Law is that we are tired of getting greatly watered-down versions of what needs to be done."
If Jessica's Law makes the ballot — its backers say it will — voters might take action themselves. The law requires registered sex offenders to be GPS-monitored for life. It will cost taxpayers plenty, although, for perspective, probably not more than taxpayers spent on a bridge for San Francisco.
Supporters of Leno's AB 50 say GPS monitoring is only needed on sex criminals "likely" to offend again. But as experts note, the only way to know which molesters will reoffend is by releasing them and seeing who does.
It's a method California's Legislature has been relying on for years.
Leno provided an "exemption" from felony charges if a suspect was caught with fewer than 100 pieces of child pornography. In a creepy all-time low, Assembly Democrats voted for Leno's plan to go soft on child porn.
Insane. I don't know what's more wrong with Sacramento's Democrats: allowing kiddie perverts under 100 pieces of child porn without facing a felony charge or opposing Jessica's Law on the grounds putting GPS radar devices on sex offenders would be "too expensive." The L.A Times Slumberin' George Skelton realizes this danger the Democrats face but he suggests making Republicans choose between protecting kids and taxes on the wealthy. Who is he kidding? I have no philosophical objection - NONE - to a tax increase to pay to lock up sexual predators. And keeping them under supervision for their lives through GPS technology is far cheaper than the damage they do our children. As far I am concerned, our kids' safety comes first.
If the Democrats want to end up as political roadkill in November all they have to do is come out against Jessica's Law that will appear on the ballot. If they don't drop the loopholes in bills now before the State Legislature, the voters will gladly do it for them.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I'm surprised that the Democrats are not being associated with crimes against children more carefully. This statement is not hyperbol - after all, the liberal judicial system and liberal values contribute to an environment of increasing child molestation and reduced punishment for the offences.
So they will Photoshop 100 pieces into a single file... A rather big file, but still only one.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
gps technology sounds like a good idea. does anyone know how much it would cost per offender per year?
O'Reilly has been very tough on this Leno guy. He is doing more for America on this issue than all the politicians combined.
O'Reilly has been very tough on this Leno guy. He is doing more for America on this issue than all the politicians combined.
I wonder how many of these legislators are protecting themeslves against future possibilities.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
DISCUSSION ABOUT:
"Sex Offense Laws In State Are A Crime (Jill Stewart Slams Soft On Child Porn Democrats Alert)"
It's quite clear that the left loves pornography and doesn't really care about protecting children.
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Excellent point.
Why would that surprise anyone?
The solution is called graves. There are no repeat offenders
I'm sure a very large number of these sex offenders are homosexuals. The homo lobby does not want the public to know this. That's why the San Francisco/LA liberals don't want any more light shone on the problem.
"The solution is called graves. There are no repeat offenders"
Correct. Cranial lead implant therapy has been proved to be 100% successful in the treatment child molesters.
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