On November 7th, California voters will be asked to weigh in on the emotionally and politically charged issue of how to manage sex offenders.
Opponents of Prop 83 claim the proposition language is unclear and could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars for no greater public safety. They also fear residency restrictions will force sex offenders out of cities and into suburban and rural areas.
Update November 8, 2006
Proposition 83 was passed by 70.6% of voters.
Proposition 83 - Proponents
- Yes on 83
- Senator George Runner, author of Proposition 83
- Crime Victims United of California
- Bill O’Reilly’s Jessica’s Law campaign
Proposition 83 - Opponents
- California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
- California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Assemblymember Mark Leno
- California Coalition on Sexual Offending
GPS & Residency Restrictions
- Map of Sex Offender Residency Restriction Zones in California Under Proposition 83, California Senate Office of Research (pdf)
- Satellite Tracking of People LLC, manufacturer of GPS systems
- “GPS Lassos First Sexual Offender”, San Bernardino Sun, November 4, 2005
- San Jose residency restriction map
- Sex offender-free zone, San Jose area
Reports on Sex Offenders in California
- California High Risk Sex Offender Task Force (pdf)
- Community Treatment and Supervision of Sex Offenders: How It’s Done Across the Country and in California, National Institute of Corrections
- Controlling Sex Offenders Reentry: Jessica’s Law Measures in California, Stanford Law (pdf)
- Sex Offenses and Offenders, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice
Other resources
- Megan’s Law: California Sex Offender Information, California Department of Justice
- California legislation against sex predators, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Office
- San Diego District Attorney, GPS pilot program
- Description of San Diego County Pilot Program
- “Backers Turning Against Tough Molester Initiative”, San Diego Tribune, April 25th, 2006
- Myths and Facts About Sex Offenders, Center for Sex Offender Management, U.S. Dept. of Justice
Listen to the commentary
October 5th, 2006 at 11:31 am
I have treasured an article from the magazine Legal Affairs (November-December 2004)titled “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”–Vermont communities try welcoming back violent ex-cons with open arms.
I wish there could be a community forum in California to discuss the potentials of such a program here. It is at the core REPARATIVE JUSTICE. This takes rehabilitation another step. The system is complicated and requires professional, volunteer and community support, but the rewards can be astounding! I wish this issue could be thoroughly researched and reported on California Connected.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
This is the kind of program I expect from public broadcasting. Thank you for the focus and careful attention to this issue.
While it’s not a burning issue for me, either way, your careful presentation of both sides of the issue was great. Thank you!
I would watch CA Connected more consistently if you adopt this kind of format. I do watch sporadically but your usual format makes me feel like I have ADHD and is not something I’m willing to spend time watching. Nevertheless, hope springs eternal and I continue to tune in sporadically.
I am a member of my local station, both radio and TV. I care about the quality of your programming. Thanks for your attention to my feedback.
Respectfully,
R. L. Higley
October 17th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
My friend, Roger, was convicted of a sex crime that he didn’t commit, by a jury that was biased. The real sexual predator who sodmomized the supposed victim repeatedly was never arrested or charged. My friend was sent to prison for twelve years where he was repeatedly assaulted and abused. Now my friend is being subjected to draconian rules that do nothing but cause public humiliation and endanger his life. I suggest you speak with him to get all the details. He is not allowed on the internet.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Most sex offenders have families, friends, relatives, and children. Some are required to register for crimes of flashing, prostitution, and a host of other offences.
contrary to the media’s torch, grouping all registered sex offenders as dangerous is not true. Even the DOJ in a report states politicians and the media have missed the mark.
This you can find on the Department Of Justice website, November 2003, NCJ 198281. http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/rsorp94.txt
Now only 3.5% of all new sex offences are committed by people NOT on the sex offender’s registry. 96.5% are committed by unregistered citizens.
People contributing to their neighborhoods, workering tax payers, disabled and family members have in the past made mistake yet sex offenders need their lives destoryed?
Is that what people want so badly to destroy?
To try to say sex offenders can not be rehabilitated is a lie regardless of who tells it. Continuing to infliction of suffering on those that are meeting society’s needs is criminal.
See for your self how 3 year olds are placed on the registry and people are held in prisons in America after serving their sentence indefinatly. It’s on YouTube now.
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=evil9999999999999999
Best regards,
http://www.SOSunite.com