"Specific address not subject to disclosure"
David / Amicus
"Specific address not subject to disclosure".
That's not going to do a parent much help to see if there's child
molester in the neighborhood!
David Johnston
wrote:
What would a parent do if they knew the specific address that would be
all that good?
David / Amicus
all that good?>>
Take the child and show her / him that address and tell them a bad
person lives there and to stay away from that place.
David Johnston
wrote:
><<What would a parent do if they knew the specific address that would be
Wouldn't it be smarter to tell them not to go into strangers homes in
general?
David / Amicus
general?>>
I don't know if they still do it but at one time there was a "safe
house" program. A home would have some kind of sticker on it so a child
would know that they could go there even if they did not know the people
living there and seek safety.
What if a child molester had a "safe house" sticker on their residence?
David Johnston
wrote:
><<Wouldn't it be smarter to tell them not to go into strangers homes in
Then I suspect the consequences for him would be serious.
Michael Black
Then you have the ridiculous situation where a child needs help, and
they just happen to go to a house where there is a fake sticker.
Michael
Porter Smith
@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net:
It's the law, which varies by state.
Several years ago I found a note on my front door asking me to come to
the police station for "an important message" When I got there and
identified myself, the police chief said there was "an individual covered
by Megan's Law residing near my house". Before he could give me anymore
information I had to read and sign a form that detailed my
responsibilities, which included:
I was not allowed to divulge the individual's name or address to anyone
who is not physically present in my house.
In the event that I had contact with the individual, I was not allowed to
discuss with him or her the fact that he or she was covered by Megan's
Law.
I could not use the information to deny the individual accommodation in
any public space I had control over.
Once I signed, he told me the guy's name, address and showed me picture.
He said the guy was a "Class 3" offender but would not reveal the
specifics. (Class 3 are those that are potentially the most dangerous)
I asked the chief what he though about this. He kind of shrugged and said
it cost the town almost $10,000 to figure out who all lives within the
notification zone (it's a specific area around the individual's
residence. And it gets complicated if there are playgrounds or schools
within that area.) and then process all the paperwork. I said that since
I have no kids I really wasn't all that worried, but I'd like to know if
my new neighbor had a record for drug dealing, DWI or burglary. He said
"So would I"
theget
> Ami...@webtv.net (David / Amicus) wrote in news:27848-4B414317-2145
> @storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net:
>
> > I was searching my zip code at the Megan's Law website. Many had
> > "Specific address not subject to disclosure".
>
> > That's not going to do a parent much help to see if there's child
> > molester in the neighborhood!
>
> It's the law, which varies by state.
>
> Several years ago I found a note on my front door asking me to come to
> the police station for "an important message"
I'm curious, did you call first to find out if the notice was legit?
I've heard of various scams that get people out of the house first.
> When I got there and
> identified myself, the police chief said there was "an individual covered
> by Megan's Law residing near my house". Before he could give me anymore
> information I had to read and sign a form that detailed my
> responsibilities, which included:
>
> I was not allowed to divulge the individual's name or address to anyone
> who is not physically present in my house.
If you had someone in your house and you did inform them, would they
be limited by the agreement as well? If you have a reporter over for
a visit so they are physically present in your house and they ask and
you tell, could they print what you say?
Suppose you visit a neighbor who has been told and they tell you about
this. Are you still constrained by the agreement? I once heard of
someone telling a joke in a restricted meeting and after the meeting
being asked to tell the joke again so it could be repeated.
> In the event that I had contact with the individual, I was not allowed to
> discuss with him or her the fact that he or she was covered by Megan's
> Law.
What? Even if they were physically present in your home?
> I could not use the information to deny the individual accommodation in
> any public space I had control over.
I'm going to guess that you're not in charge of a school or public
playground or some other place where children go. Well, that assumes
that the offense was something involving a minor.
> I asked the chief what he though about this. He kind of shrugged and said
> it cost the town almost $10,000 to figure out who all lives within the
> notification zone (it's a specific area around the individual's
> residence. And it gets complicated if there are playgrounds or schools
> within that area.)
Aren't sex offenders usually prevented from living within some
distance from these? I understand that in some states the limits are
so bad that sex offenders live in places that make it even more
difficult to police them. But sorry, I can't remember the details.
> and then process all the paperwork. I said that since
> I have no kids I really wasn't all that worried, but I'd like to know if
> my new neighbor had a record for drug dealing, DWI or burglary. He said
> "So would I"
Aren't you curious about things like murder and mugging too?
Maybe he does know, but he's signed some sort of thing saying that he
can't tell you?
You could always ask your neighbor.
You could always get a throw away cell phone and call people as if
you're doing a survey and ask them if they've ever been convicted of a
felony. Check with a lawyer first to see if this sort of thing would
be legal in your jurisdiction.
Also, maybe there are companies that search court records and can find
out for you. I recall that there are companies that do this for
landlord-tenant disputes in some areas. They sell the records to the
landlords.
Theget
Porter Smith
news:0859a978-06cc-4550...@z40g2000vba.googlegroups.com:
>
> I'm curious, did you call first to find out if the notice was legit?
> I've heard of various scams that get people out of the house first.
>
No. I came home one day and found the notice on my door. I stopped by the
police station the next day after work.
>
> If you had someone in your house and you did inform them, would they
> be limited by the agreement as well? If you have a reporter over for
> a visit so they are physically present in your house and they ask and
> you tell, could they print what you say?
>
> Suppose you visit a neighbor who has been told and they tell you about
> this. Are you still constrained by the agreement? I once heard of
> someone telling a joke in a restricted meeting and after the meeting
> being asked to tell the joke again so it could be repeated.
>
Good points, and you have identified one of the flaws in the system. They
make the local PD jump through all these hoops to inform the public of
these restrictions that are almost impossibleto enforce. One rule was
that if I decided to sell my house I could not inform potential buyers,
or the realtor, but at closing, I would be required to tell the new
owners.
The funny thing is that a week after this $10K exercise our local paoer
printed the guy's picture, name, addrsss and a rather detailed
description of his most recent crime (for which he was just being
released) as well as his 20 year record of past offenses
>
>> In the event that I had contact with the individual, I was not
>> allowed to discuss with him or her the fact that he or she was
>> covered by Megan's Law.
>
> What? Even if they were physically present in your home?
>
The intent was to prevent me from knocking on his door and saying "move
away you pervert".
>
> I'm going to guess that you're not in charge of a school or public
> playground or some other place where children go. Well, that assumes
> that the offense was something involving a minor.
Correct on both counts. This guy was a 60 year old who had a fondness for
pre-adolescent girls, including his 9 year old grand daughter.
>
> Aren't you curious about things like murder and mugging too?
>
> Maybe he does know, but he's signed some sort of thing saying that he
> can't tell you?
>
Unless you're on parole or a registered sex offender, there is no
requirement in New Jersey to notify anyone, including law enforcement
that you have a record. Unless they have a reason to contact them the
police probably don't even know who is living in their town, criminal or
not. Our justice system assumes that once you have "paid your debt to
society" you are free to live where you want.
D.F. Manno
Not everyone who is subject to Megan's Law is a "child molester."
Prosecutors are indiscriminately using the law as a club against
defendants whose alleged offense involves sex in some way: statutory
rape, indecent exposure, etc. Many of these people pose no threat to
children.
Megan's Law does absolutely nothing to protect children against
molesters who haven't been caught yet. In fact, it may actually harm
them to the extent that it provides a false sense of security.
Furthermore, notification under the law encourages vigilantism.
--
D.F. Manno | dfm...@mail.com
And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would
have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His
existence. (Bertrand Russell)
D.F. Manno
<0859a978-06cc-4550...@z40g2000vba.googlegroups.com>,
theget <the...@bigmailbox.net> wrote:
> > When I got there and
> > identified myself, the police chief said there was "an individual covered
> > by Megan's Law residing near my house". Before he could give me anymore
> > information I had to read and sign a form that detailed my
> > responsibilities, which included:
> >
> > I was not allowed to divulge the individual's name or address to anyone
> > who is not physically present in my house.
>
> If you had someone in your house and you did inform them, would they
> be limited by the agreement as well? If you have a reporter over for
> a visit so they are physically present in your house and they ask and
> you tell, could they print what you say?
Yes. Otherwise it would be unconstitutional prior restraint.
David / Amicus
over the neighborhood. Is that illegal?
I remember one was in fact a convicted child molester who did his time
and had been released from prison.
Porter Smith
@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net:
Only if the city has an ordinance against posting notices w/o permission.
(NJ Bell got a law passed prohibiting posting on telephone poles. Too many
pole climbers got hurt when their spikes got caught in some "lost dog"
sign.)
Even if you posted something that wasn't true, you woudl have to answer in
civil not criminal court.
D.F. Manno
Ami...@webtv.net (David / Amicus) wrote:
> So in some of the L&Os someone was posting pictures of the person all
> over the neighborhood. Is that illegal?
Making a TV show? Of course not.
Jeff Gersten
I think you somewhat "misremembered" the episode. First it was on L&O CI
(a Chris NOth episode). Second, he was convicted of rape while a
serviceman in Japan.
And he was killed in a thrill killing. Also, a policeman facilitated the
killing by disabling his car
David Johnston
wrote:
>So in some of the L&Os someone was posting pictures of the person all
>over the neighborhood. Is that illegal?
In which jurisdiction?