Published: June 27, 2008 10:12 am            

Sexual offenders

June 18, 2008 — I wish Kentucky would jump on the bandwagon with Ohio, Alabama and Wisconsin and push for a bill to require all convicted sex offenders to have a certain license plate on his or her car that reads, “Sex offender.”

For too long sex offenders have been lurking after and watching our children, I think it’s about time we watch them.

I have absolutely no compassion or sympathy for anyone who sexually abuses a minor or anyone for that matter.

I recently attended a sex offender training session and learned a lot of interesting information I didn’t know. I was under the notion that once an offender is released from prison he is turned openly back into the community. That’s no necessarily so.

In fact, they have to undergo a five-year program and it’s very strict and watches them closely.

According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, the offender actually has little to no freedom within the community. And it was satisfying to discover they are under constant surveillance by professionals and even given routine lie detector tests.

It takes a truly twisted mind to commit such a crime. I simply don’t understand why a person would want to harm a child. At the training session we were told it all starts with low self-esteem and depression.

I’m sorry but I can’t find a reasonable excuse for any of it. I’ve suffered a lot of depression in my life, but come on.

During the session we also were told that offenders chose their victims for particular reasons. They sometimes befriend the minor and over a period of time gain the child’s trust. After further research, I found out some predators use their professions as way to attract their victims. They may have what looks to the victim as a glamorous job causing the victim to admire and look up to them. It was told that some offenders, who have never been convicted, even hide behind their jobs while making the community believe they are upstanding citizens within the community.

We also learned once returned to society; the offender must remain “compliant” by reporting his or her physical address to police. I looked on the sexual predators Web site and only found one non-compliant offender in Rowan County.

Here’s my idea…I think each state should have a sex offenders’ community located somewhere in the center of the state. Once released from prison, they would be forced to live in that community with other predators.

And at the entrance there would hang a huge sign that would read, “No children allowed.” The predators would be made to work and pay their own bills, but only in places where no children are present.

OK, I know I’m being ridiculous, because that sort of project would eat up a lot of tax dollars to build, but it would be worth the safety of children.

        

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