I was recently told that the police in Baltimore City have started posting signs on the doors of registered sex offenders that warn parents not to bring their children to that house. If the resident is found to have removed the sign, he or she will be in violation of any probation or parole, and will be arrested.
Your thoughts?
2007-10-18 02:31:08 · 8 answers · asked by OhKatie! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
Great idea! As far as I'm concerned, once someone has been convicted of a sex crime (especially against a child) he or she has given up their rights to live in anonymity forever.
The sex offender doesn't need protection...the children do! The sex offender is not traumatized by his/her actions, the child is!
2007-10-18 02:57:36 · answer #1 · answered by Loves the Ponies 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it might be a good idea because alot of parents let their children go out by themselves. If you let your children know to avoid the houses with the signs they could be alot safer.
It will probably be scarey though when you see the signs. It's surprising sometimes how many of these people live around you and you didn't even know it.
Of course, many people will say that this is endangering the sex offenders. It's pinpointing them and may result in upset neighbors attacking them or something. I don't necessarily condone this, but I think the offenders shouldn't be able to hide. I think it would be fine if they posted their faces on billboards all over town.
2007-10-18 02:48:01 · answer #2 · answered by al_xs_mama_jama 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not a bad idea. The addresses of registered sex offenders are on publicly accessible databases anyway, but this makes it a bit easier. Unfortunately though, I can see potential for abuse. Someone is bound to put up bogus sex offender signs on an innocent person's door.
On balance, I think that the potential harm could outweigh the potential good. Checking the database should be sufficient.
2007-10-18 02:36:20 · answer #3 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
GREAT!!!!!! I think its about time that someone got off their butt and did something like this. All the websites in the world with a list of offenders is no use unless everyone has been able to view them, which we all know is not the case at all. We just had a crossing guard arrested for this and his wife as well because she knew about it. We as parents and the public need to do all we can to prevent another child from being hurt. Hats off to this police department.
2007-10-18 03:01:34 · answer #4 · answered by lcsm11@verizon.net 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
About time!!!!!!!!!!!
Not everyone has access to look up the sex offenders registry on the net or has the time to run down to the police stations to look it over and see if there are persons in their neighborhoods. And a lot of them have changed addresses with out notifying their parole officers or the data has not been put into the computer lists and updated.
I believe that all neighborhoods should do this at this time of year.
2007-10-18 02:38:18 · answer #5 · answered by Karma of the Poodle 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Accept for the potential abuse, it seems ok. I'm not sure if it is or will be an effective course of action though. The reason I'm saying this is that I have no clue about how many times children are abducted or abused on Halloween or due to it - if that occurs then it is a reasonable measure.
2007-10-18 02:41:18 · answer #6 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is really wierd! What would happen if someone came to that house? Would they be arrested then?
2007-10-18 02:41:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
this world is full of sick things.
2007-10-18 02:35:57 · answer #8 · answered by sk8tergrl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋