MUST WATCH: This Woman's Congressional Testimony is Going Viral

Post by Liberty For All.

State commission: Sex offender registration does little to prevent youth crimes

http://www.recordamerican.com/2014/03/26/state-commission-sex-offender-registration-does-little-to-prevent-youth-crimes/#

Local Police in Florida Acting Like They’re the CIA (But They’re Not)

http://aclufl.org/2014/03/25/local-police-in-florida-acting-like-theyre-the-cia-but-theyre-not/

Explicit Material, Child Abuse Drive Rise In Federal Sex Crime Cases

Explicit Material, Child Abuse Drive Rise In Federal Sex Crime Cases

Ramos says Megan’s Law conviction should be tossed

Ramos says Megan’s Law conviction should be tossed

Unethical and Ineffective Practices of many Therapists

Journalist writing a piece on the unethical and ineffective practices that many therapists are using on juvenile sex offenders in the name of "treatment," and how far removed many of these treatments are from best practices that have been thoroughly researched by experts like Drs. Chaffin, Silovsky, Letorneau, and others. Seeking described practices such as:

-- Aversion therapy: kids made to smell ammonia or snap their wrists with a rubberband every time they have a "deviant" thought.

-- Keeping kids in treatment for far longer than is necessary, thus prolonging their involvement in the criminal justice system (since many must "successfully complete treatment" to be released from parole)

-- Forcing kids to disclose their entire sexual history and then reporting kids for revelations they make (even ones that happened long ago and do not put anyone else in imminent danger), so at the completion of treatment they're re-arrested and charged with new sex crimes. Also using invasive tools like plethysmographs and polygraphs to force disclosures.

Question: have you heard of such practices happening anywhere? Do you know any teenagers or young adults who have been through such experiences as juveniles and might be willing to talk? If not, would you be willing to post a call to your local listserv and asking for families who have experienced this and might be willing to share their stories?

http://blackapple.org/contact/

Links of Interest

http://www.wksexcrimes.com/10-assumptions-about-sex-offenders/

http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/New-legislation-requires-registered-sex-offenders-to-pay-annual-fee-252093461.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/private-prisons-oklahoma_n_4548883.html

http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2014/03/24/north-little-rock-could-tighten-sex-offender-laws/6848087/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-seminole-child-sex-predator-roundup-20140324,0,5943971.story

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/60-years-for-a-warning?source=s.fwd&r_by=4078681

https://news.vice.com/articles/an-ex-con-takes-aim-at-multibillion-dollar-private-prisons?trk_source=homepage-feature

Wow... https://local.nixle.com/alert/5168407/ This site/link is incredibly horrible, The details on this notification. What no cop following his every move... oh, i guess one isn't needed since will be others watching him very closely. I guess a place to live will be out of the question as well as a job.
 

Police phone-tracking contracts often kept secret

Police phone-tracking contracts often kept secret

Are you a registered sex offender? Then watch this video!

How Many Convictions Are Questionable in Light of Sting Exposure.

LAKE MONROE, FLORIDA – March 19, 2014

Imagine someone offers you a cigarette, you accept and about halfway through smoking it they tell you the cigarette contains marijuana and they are arresting you for possession. The cigarette never actually contained marijuana and you never sought out drugs, but you get arrested anyhow. That’s how many who were arrested in sex offender stings feel.

Last Friday, Tampa’s CBS affiliate, WTSP, had the courage to report on something that victims had been screaming about for years; Sex Offender stings. Only in this case it’s not an abused child who is the victim, it’s the “predator” caught in the sting.

The Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office is remaining tight lipped after the results of a Channel 10 News investigation discovered that the department was placing ads in Adult online classifieds and inducing individuals with no propensity or intent to engage in sexual activity with a child, into a sexually charged email exchange and only after the fact disclosing that the participant (a police officer) is underage.

This tactic is not exclusive to Pinellas County. In fact complaints from several Counties across Florida describe a scenario where an adult responds to an adults only ad (where site visitors need to be over 18 to enter) seeking a sexual relationship with an adult and are suddenly blindsided by a claim that the person they are chatting with is a minor.

The Internet Crimes Against Children task force sets guidelines for conducting these types of stings, but it is clear that the Police have not been following them. Instead choosing to go “fishing in a barrel”, knowing that public sentiment towards sex offenders, combined with the general humiliation that comes with being charged with such an offense and the bias against them will almost certainly ensure a speedy plea and conviction.

This investigation not only brings this situation to light, but calls into question the hundreds, if not thousands, of recent arrests resulting from these stings. It also prompts the question; are the guys on the registry really the ones we should be keeping an eye on?

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws targeting the truly violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex. FAC believes that many aspects of the current approach to sex offenders seriously undermine justice and actually increase the threat of sexual assault against others, particularly children. FAC opposes a publicized registry of sex offenders and seeks to bring an end to the humiliation of people who have already paid for their crimes. FAC asserts that only by supporting justice for all people—offenders and victims alike can a truly safe society be built and secured for all Americans.

“Bookville” 3 – Colonies of Homeless Sex Offenders Continue to Grow and Generate Media Attention.

LAKE MONROE, FLORIDA – March 18, 2014

“Bookville” - the name that has become associated with a colony of sex offenders forced to live homeless as a consequence of residency restrictions pushed through by lobbyist Ron Book, which is in its third incarnation, is beginning to get media attention again.

The first “Bookville” developed under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, but when the growing number of inhabitants began to swell from under the overpass and become visible to passing tourists en route to
Miami Beach, the overpass was fenced off and its inhabitants were moved to NE 79th Street and 10^th Avenue; another of the very limited pockets of availability for sex offenders in Miami-Dade County.

A couple of years later, when residents of that community began to get annoyed by the offenders living on the sidewalk who were dumped there by probation, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff installed a spring toy in a small decrepit lot and declared it the “Little River Pocket Park”, effectively banishing the inhabitants from there.

Today, “Bookville 3” has emerged at NW 71^st Street and 36^th Court, along the railroad tracks, where 130 individuals are registered as homeless, living without shelter, fresh water, electricity or sanitation – forced to urinate and defecate in the bushes.

Probation and legislators likely hoped that this more desolate warehouse district would remain under wraps a bit longer, but the Media is catching up. Just this past Thursday, the Miami New Times ran a story on the encampment, Univision 23 Miami (WLTV) was out to film a feature and a news crew from as far as France came to film the intolerable conditions former sex offenders in the United States are subjected to.

Undoubtedly, as it has done before, the County will soon come up with a creative way to displace the sex offenders from Bookville 3 and is probably currently searching for a bridge, field or sidewalk in another community to shuffle them to. However, with very limited pockets of availability remaining in the County where sex offenders can reside; expect Commissioners to face a very big challenge planning the development of Bookville 4.

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws targeting the truly violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex. FAC believes that many aspects of the current approach to sex offenders seriously undermine justice and actually increase the threat of sexual assault against others, particularly children. FAC opposes a publicized registry of sex offenders and seeks to bring an end to the humiliation of people who have already paid for their crimes. FAC asserts that only by supporting justice for all people—offenders and victims alike can a truly safe society be built and secured for all Americans.

ACLU Holds Forum on Sex Offender Registry Restrictions

LAKE MONROE, FLORIDA – March 17, 2014

This past Saturday, the ACLU of Florida held a forum on the efficacy of sex offender residency restrictions. The event, moderated by CBS 4 Reporter Jim DeFede, sought to answer the question of whether the residency restrictions imposed on sex offenders are based on evidence or politics and, more importantly, whether they are actually making our communities safer.

The panel for this forum was comprised of Jeanne Baker; an ACLU cooperating attorney who has worked on cases challenging residency restrictions, Gail Colletta; President of the Florida Action Committee, Dawn Thompson; assistant executive director Kristi House child advocacy center and Marc Sarnoff; Miami City Commissioner.

Surprisingly, although the panel included a children’s advocate and one of the commissioners who was responsible for architecting measures to zone sex offenders out of communities, the panelists all agreed that the restrictions were based on politics, ran contrary to empirical evidence and studies consistently show they are ineffective and that they are not making our community safer.

The most shocking facts to emerge from the forum were that of the 2,017 sex offenders in Miami-Dade County. 82 are incarcerated and 42 are deceased, leaving 1,893 in the community. Of those; 342 (18%) are registered as “Transient” (homeless) and 224 (12%) are listed as “Absconded” (have gone underground to avoid registration/residency requirements). An unintended consequence of residency restrictions is that almost one-third of registrants are harder to track.

Those who have absconded are likely in the community; police just don’t know where they are and certainly cannot check up on them. Those who are transient lack housing stability and are removed from family support; both are triggers for re-offense.

Not only have the residency restrictions created an intolerable and inhumane lifetime punishment imposed on registrants, but they are endangering the citizens of Miami-Dade.

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws targeting the truly violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex. FAC believes that many aspects of the current approach to sex offenders seriously undermine justice and actually increase the threat of sexual assault against others, particularly children. FAC opposes a publicized registry of sex offenders and seeks to bring an end to the humiliation of people who have already paid for their crimes. FAC asserts that only by supporting justice for all people—offenders and victims alike can a truly safe society be built and secured for all Americans.

Legislators Are Well Intended But Misguided. Citizens Should Not Be.

LAKE MONROE, FLORIDA – March 2, 2014

The 2014 Legislative session will see a number of bills that are proposed and likely to pass regarding the sex offender registry. As our state continues to pass more and more laws named for a victim, costly repetition is occurring.

Such laws are passed with no consideration for empirical evidence as to their effectiveness, affect many on the registry who are little or no risk and are costing tax payers millions of dollars each year while doing absolutely nothing to improve public safety. In fact, they are likely making our children less safe!

These laws waste precious tax dollars that would better serve needed programs, such as the failing DCF system and for family educational programs. Such educational programs should include teaching parents to not leave a child alone while shopping in another part of a store and never allowing a child to go off with a stranger no matter what the promise!

We need to realize that no matter what new laws we pass, we will never be able to eliminate or even reduce the number of child victims unless we pass laws based on empirical evidence and focus our attention on prevention, rather than punishment.

We are about to consider a law named after child victim Somer Thompson, to apply closer scrutiny on current sex offenders. Citizens should note, however, that the perpetrator in Somer’s case was NOT on the registry! In fact; 98% of sex offenses are committed by first time offenders. If we were to apply these laws to the individuals most likely to commit a sex offense, we would be policing every individual in our State.

It is time to call upon all legislators to become knowledgeable about what works, what is working in other States and then - only then - create laws that are SMART on crime. Our legislators should also disclose the costs of the proposed legislation and the intended benefit. If we evaluated the costs and benefits of the laws already in place, our citizens would be shocked.

During the coming lawmaking session, our legislators should focus resources in areas that will make a difference and that will impact the safety of all the State’s citizens. Our children deserve that much.

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws targeting the truly violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex. FAC believes that many aspects of the current approach to sex offenders seriously undermine justice and actually increase the threat of sexual assault against others, particularly children. FAC opposes a publicized registry of sex offenders and seeks to bring an end to the humiliation of people who have already paid for their crimes. FAC asserts that only by supporting justice for all people—offenders and victims alike can a truly safe society be built and secured for all Americans.

Florida: Reforming 10-20-Life AND Florida’s drug trafficking statute

Urgent! Please Help Pass Our Bills!

http://famm.org/urgent-please-help-pass-our-bills/

Call Now!! March 19, 2014

Hello, Florida FAMM!
We are on the verge of passing the first real sentencing reform in Florida in nearly 15 years. Our bills reforming 10-20-Life AND Florida’s drug trafficking statute will be heard in the full Senate THIS WEEK!

• SB 360 reforms Florida’s drug trafficking statute by raising the weight thresholds necessary to trigger mandatory minimums for “trafficking” in prescription drugs. It also relaxes the sentences for prescription drug trafficking crimes.
• SB 448 allows for downward departure from 10-20-Life in aggravated assault cases where self-defense is an issue. I am convinced that if this bill were law years ago, none of our profile cases would be in prison today, and that’s why we support this good bill enthusiastically.

Both SB 360 and SB 448 will be heard in the full Senate this Thursday, March 20. I can’t express how important it is to our movement that this bill passes now. FAMM has worked with the sponsors of these bills from the very beginning, and we are thrilled to see them ready for a vote!
Now, it’s your turn.
It is VITAL that you email YOUR SENATOR and tell him or her to support SB 360 and SB 448. It’s easy!
1. Go here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find. Type in your zip code to find your Senator.
2. Click “Email this Senator.”
3. Under “Topic,” click “Other.”
4. In the “Your Comment or Question” box, type: “Please Support SB 360 and SB 448.”
5. Type in your contact information.
6. Click “Send Email.”
That’s it!
We’ve never been this close to passing sentencing reform before. It’s time to act and get it done! Thank you for your help!
Best,
Greg Newburn, FAMM Florida Project Director

More Sex Sting Backlash

https://www.change.org/petitions/florida-gov-scott-dept-of-justice-us-congress-pres-of-the-us-pardon-all-people-arrested-and-coviction-of-internet-sex-stings

Interview with Serial Killer Patrick Drum: Vigilante Murder, Terror, and Psychopathy

Interview with Serial Killer Patrick Drum:  Vigilante Murder, Terror, and Psychopathy

“Interview with a Vigilante” – An Activist Central Two-Hour Special with a pre-recorded February 14^th  telephone interview of serial killer Patrick Drum inside a Walla Walla Washington maximum security prison.

In June 2012, Patrick Drum, a man with a lengthy criminal background, shot and killed two men in Port Angeles, WA, and planned to kill two others had he not been killed by the police. Many people consider him a “hero” because his targets were “Registered Sex Offenders.” Drum believes this country was “founded on vigilantism” and his actions were justified.  In this Special Two-Hour Episode of Activist Central, hear the shocking, exclusive interview with the killer himself, Patrick Drum.

Also joining Activist Central is Derek Logue, founder of Once Fallen and the producer of an upcoming documentary on the Patrick Drum killings. Mr. Logue will take us behind the scenes of the upcoming documentary and discuss the details about the killings you won’t hear about in the media.

Is Patrick Drum a hero, or is a monster in his own right? Tune in and decide for yourself.

= = = = = = = = =

Activist Central talk radio: Viva La Revolucion! - The talk radio program that focuses on the New Militancy of the Oppressed, Degraded and Persecuted Citizens of the United States.  Not for the faint at heart, we will discuss themes, strategies, and tactics along with the philosophy of war, rebellion, resistance and more.   Please join us in this exciting Thursday evening one hour program and explore with us the outer limits of social and political change.  See you there and help spread this information.

Viva La Revolucion!

Tom Madison

Peace, Justice and Truth Activist
and

Host of Talk Show Series: "Activist Central"
Passive Listen in at:
Www.BlogTalkRadio.Com/ActivistCentral Thursdays at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern
Switchboard call in: 347-324-5043
Private phone: 503-975-1944
Broadcasting Coast to Coast from Portland, Oregon

Subject Line:  Activist Central talk radio:   Viva La Revolution for the Oppressed.

Sex Offender Murders + (Current): Officers involved in deaths of suspects return to ...

Sex Offender Murders + (Current): Officers involved in deaths of suspects return to ...: 3-1-2014 Florida: Law enforcement officers involved in three separate violent confrontations in January have been placed back on duty wh...

FL - Sex-Offender Bills' Critics Say They Won't Stop Most Crimes Against Kids

FL - Sex-Offender Bills' Critics Say They Won't Stop Most Crimes Against Kids

Tallahassee, Florida: Monday, March 3, 2014

Thank you to all those that have, and are planning to call their legislators tomorrow regarding these Bills!

 

Florida Judiciary Committee

Today: Monday, March 3, 2014
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/VideoPlayer.aspx?eventID=2443575804_2014031000&committeeID=2718

The reading of the Bill(s) amendments begin around 34.02 minute mark. Our President Gail Colletta testifies a few minutes after the start of the Bills' readings.

Important to listen through the entire clip until the very end.

Legislators Are Well Intended But Misguided. Citizens Should Not Be.

LAKE MONROE, FLORIDA – March 2, 2014

The 2014 Legislative session will see a number of bills that are proposed and likely to pass regarding the sex offender registry. As our state continues to pass more and more laws named for a victim, costly repetition is occurring.

Such laws are passed with no consideration for empirical evidence as to their effectiveness, affect many on the registry who are little or no risk and are costing tax payers millions of dollars each year while doing absolutely nothing to improve public safety. In fact, they are likely making our children less safe!

These laws waste precious tax dollars that would better serve needed programs, such as the failing DCF system and for family educational programs. Such educational programs should include teaching parents to not leave a child alone while shopping in another part of a store and never allowing a child to go off with a stranger no matter what the promise!

We need to realize that no matter what new laws we pass, we will never be able to eliminate or even reduce the number of child victims unless we pass laws based on empirical evidence and focus our attention on prevention, rather than punishment.

We are about to consider a law named after child victim Somer Thompson, to apply closer scrutiny on current sex offenders. Citizens should note, however, that the perpetrator in Somer’s case was NOT on the registry! In fact; 98% of sex offenses are committed by first time offenders. If we were to apply these laws to the individuals most likely to commit a sex offense, we would be policing every individual in our State.

It is time to call upon all legislators to become knowledgeable about what works, what is working in other States and then - only then - create laws that are SMART on crime. Our legislators should also disclose the costs of the proposed legislation and the intended benefit. If we evaluated the costs and benefits of the laws already in place, our citizens would be shocked.

During the coming lawmaking session, our legislators should focus resources in areas that will make a difference and that will impact the safety of all the State’s citizens. Our children deserve that much.

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws targeting the truly violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of sex. FAC believes that many aspects of the current approach to sex offenders seriously undermine justice and actually increase the threat of sexual assault against others, particularly children. FAC opposes a publicized registry of sex offenders and seeks to bring an end to the humiliation of people who have already paid for their crimes. FAC asserts that only by supporting justice for all people—offenders and victims alike can a truly safe society be built and secured for all Americans.

FLORIDA: CALL TO ACTION! THIS IS A MUST! March 3rd & 4th.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION! THIS IS A MUST! March 3rd & 4th.
THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE AND MUST BE MADE ON THE DATES SPECIFIED!


It is IMPERATIVE we inundate their offices with calls!

If you have access to a computer you may email them as well. We cannot have too much communication on this agenda!

Our voices MUST be heard.
It’s your turn!

The Florida Action Committee has been working diligently on your behalf all through the committee weeks, as well as all year long. We are now in the thick of it all.

Session Begins on Tuesday March 4^th. A number of bills which are detrimental to all of us and fail to protect any of Florida’s citizens are among the first on the Legislative Agenda. We are asking you to do your part. 

You ask what can you do to fight for what’s right ???

Well this is an urgent request that you, all your friends, family and supporters participate this Monday and Tuesday, March 3^rd & 4th.

Call your Representative and your Senator in Tallahassee as well as the Governor’s office. 

If you do not know who your Representative is click here to find out: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

If you do not know who your senator is click here to find out: http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

The bills that YOU will be calling about when calling your Senator are:

In the Senate

CS/CS/SB 522, CS/CS/SB 524, CS/CS/SB 526, CS/CS/SB 528

The bills that YOU will be calling about when calling your Representative are:

In the House

CS/HB 7019 CS/HB 7021 CS/HB 7025 CS/HB 7027

The statement you should be making is:

“Please Protect me and my family. As your constituent I am asking you to Vote NO on any of the Sex Offender or Predator bills before you this session.

They are not based on scientific evidence and will make our children less safe.

We continue to do everything contrary to the research.Please vote no and protect my children”

Leave your name and phone number…

Tell the Governor: (850) 488-7146 

“I DO NOT WANT you to sign any of this legislation into law. It is wasteful of my tax dollars and there is no evidence it will protect any of the citizens you are charged with protecting. In fact the research supports quite the opposite. It will make us less safe and increase recidivism! Governor Scott, PROTECT MY CHILDREN!”
Leave your name and phone number!



We Need ALL of YOU NOW!!!!
Thank You for your help and support. We cannot do this alone!