Sex Offenders' Homes to Be Marked With Pumpkin Symbol

[kakax]

ANNAPOLIS — Sex offenders in Maryland have begun receiving paper signs in the mail that read "No candy at this residence," which they must post on their front doors or possibly face a parole violation.

The signs began arriving last week in the mailboxes of the about 1,200 violent and child-sex offenders across Maryland. The signs were accompanied by a letter explaining they must stay at home, turn off outside lights and not answer the door on Halloween.

Maryland is also distributing pamphlets statewide to warn families to stay away from homes with the pumpkin signs.

"Halloween provides a rare opportunity for you to demonstrate to your neighbors that you are making a sincere effort to change the direction of your life," the letter to sex offenders reads.

"Because Halloween is a holiday in which large numbers of children interact with strangers, the concern among parents and other community members about sexual offenders in their neighborhoods is naturally intensified during this time of year," Patrick McGee, interim director of the state's Division of Parole and Probation, wrote in the Oct. 1 letter.

Maryland, which began the program in 2005, is among a number of states placing Halloween restrictions on sex offenders. Maryland's regulations are almost identical to those adopted in Missouri, where four convicted sex offenders and the American Civil Liberties Union are challenging the state law in federal court.

"We've had very good results," Wonda Adams, said a supervisor at the Parole and Probation Division and coordinator of the Halloween watch program.

"Our goal is public safety, and in keeping with that we need to make sure that the individuals under our supervision are provided with the enhanced supervision that we're committed to."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438725,00.html

Originally Posted by RachelRose

Why are sex offenders treated so much more harshly than murderers?

A man who tortures his girlfriend's child to death, serves his term and gets out doesn't have to post signs announcing he is a murderer.

This just seems so backwards.

I'm not Politically Correct, so I don't have to sanitize what we are talking about.

We are talking about Pedophiles. They don't deserve even being on the earth's food chain.

These are sexual predators who rape and sodomize our innocent children.

I would feel differently about this filth if they could, in some way be rehabilitated, that is to say cured, of their monstrous sexual attraction to our little innocents.

But, as we all know, this is not so.

JMHO

[LisaM22]

once a person has done their time they should be given another chance, and not be required to do something like this - I have no problem with people on parole as in this article having addition restrictions as they are still being punished for their crime - but this should be for a people in parole, not just some

Originally Posted by LisaM22

once a person has done their time they should be given another chance, and not be required to do something like this - I have no problem with people on parole as in this article having addition restrictions as they are still being punished for their crime - but this should be for a people in parole, not just some

This is the problem we have with Pedophiles.

When they get out of prison, the huge vast majority of them, again, prey upon our innocent children.

Our children are the ones who bear the horrendous consequences of letting these evil fiends out in society.

JMHO

[LisaM22]

Originally Posted by crocdog

This is the problem we have with Pedophiles.

When they get out of prison, the huge vast majority of them, again, prey upon our innocent children.

Our children are the ones who bear the horrendous consequences of letting these evil fiends out in society.

JMHO

I have always said they should get life, but our system is designed so that once someone does their time, that is it, even mccain just recently said this about people that have done their time

[LisaM22]

Originally Posted by snowbird01

Except for pedophiles - who have to register. As they should, for the most part. Why shouldn't child killers also have to register?
And the registers should be looked at periodically: there are kids who had consensual sex many, many years ago and can't get off the registration. I remember in particular (in GA) a silly kid (aged 17) gave oral sex to a boy she hardly knew in the back of a classroom on a dare from the boy involved. Well this (very big ) boy turned out to be only 16 (or maybe it was 15) and so she is listed and registered forever as a pedophile. Now - 10 or more years later she is married with children and purchased a home in a far away community (but still in GA). Some time after she purchased her home they built a school (or a day care center - I forget what exactly) nearby and LE told her she has to move away.
There are many stories like that. The registration roles need to be checked out and there should be an appeals process, but there doesn't seem to be.

I agree, many people are on the list that should not be and many are not on the list that should be

[melanie78]

That is GREAT! In our city a police car parks in front of all the level 3 sex offenders houses until the trick or treat hours are over.

Here is a wonderful site for all the parents out there to check their neighborhood http://www.familywatchdog.us/ It also shows their convictions for those on here with a problem with the registry.

Originally Posted by melanie78

That is GREAT! In our city a police car parks in front of all the level 3 sex offenders houses until the trick or treat hours are over.

Here is a wonderful site for all the parents out there to check their neighborhood http://www.familywatchdog.us/ It also shows their convictions for those on here with a problem with the registry.

In my city, they order them all to certain locations and keep them there for several hours, until all the trick or treat children are home in bed. It's mandatory. If they don't go, the cops find them and they are considered in violation of their probation or parole. Then to jail/court they go.

It's a great relief for the parents with kids over 10 years that like to run all over their neighborhood trick or treating.

In addition, all sex offenders have to display a sign in their front window stating that "A sex offender lives here."

Here's the Marc Klaas site. You can look up your state for the laws regarding sex offenders, and how many there are in your state (that info is at the bottom of the page).


http://www.klaaskids.org/pg-legmeg.htm