Sex Offender Spotted Near DD's School

[Fianna]

All parents were sent a letter last week from my dd's elementary school that said several parents had spotted a registered sex offender near the school. I just felt sick as I read it. I know realistically that that sort of thing is going to happen. Child predators are drawn to areas where there are large groups of children. There's no telling how many times parents and children everywhere play happily in parks, at playgrounds, etc. completely unaware that sex offenders are watching them. But just to have it confirmed, to think that my dd was playing on the playground with her classmates while a predator lurked in the area, really makes me feel nauseated.

The letter from the school gave the web addy for us to find the list of registered offenders in our area, and I've been staring at all of the photos trying to burn them into my brain. I want to print them all out and keep them with me all of the time, staring at the faces I see looking for them...

<Sigh>.

[paquerette]

Definately don't let your guard down, but also don't forget that not all of those people would be inclined to molest children. Someone who had sex with a 17 year old girlfriend might be on there. Or someone who committed adultery or sodomy, depending on your state. Is there any indication in the listings what the people's actual crimes were?

[Fianna]

It does list a general conviction charge: sexual assault, child molestation, statutory rape, etc. Of course as I'm going through the list right now I'm finding that the majority of them who are living nearest the school were convicted of child molestation.

And I'm sitting here looking at pictures of all of these scum bags while my dd and her adorable little best friend are having a dress-up tea party in the other room. And it just makes me shake with rage to think of someone laying a hand on them.

:Puke

[Katana]

Ugh. This gets my blood boiling.

I know, realistically, you can't stop them from going near where kids are, if they're out of jail. But it is awful that you have to think that anywhere there are kids, there could be someone watching or even approaching them.

The thing that absolutely baffles me is WHY people convicted of harming children, who are on the sex offender list are allowed to reside in homes near schools. When my brother was in grammar school, there was a convicted child molester that lived across the street from the school!

The teachers and school administrators said, well, we know what he looks like, we watch for him. That's supposed to make everyone feel better?

What is the matter with realtors or even the local police for not figuring out some kind of system to keep them out of houses across the street or around the corner from schools?

[carolsly]

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. If you know where they are and know what they look like then you've fought half of the battle. I would rather know where they are and what they look like. Keep yourself and your children aware and educated. Talk to your kids. Give them power (my parents taught us to make this really wierd scream to make sure that people were paying attention to us).

I don't want them in my neighborhood either, but it's a fact of life..where there are people..there are sex offenders.

[Fianna]

My sister was quick to point out that only a minor fraction of the child predators are ever caught and convicted, so there are a lot more "unlabelled" ones out there than the ones we know of. My sister worked as the director of a victim/witness assistance program in the court system for years and then went on to direct her county's social services agency, so she knows of what she speaks.
Ugh.
I can't imagine how paranoid and stressed out I will be once my daughters are older and driving and going out on the weekends to "hang out" with friends. I feel the gray hairs popping out on my head when I even think about it.

[moondiapers]

you also need to keep in mind that it's pretty rare for someone to actually be convicted of their original charges. So child molestion and unlawful penetration (say a twenty-one year old had sex with a 14 year old) can become stat-rape...etc in a plea agreement.

[Greaseball]

Originally Posted by paquerette

Definately don't let your guard down, but also don't forget that not all of those people would be inclined to molest children. Someone who had sex with a 17 year old girlfriend might be on there. Or someone who committed adultery or sodomy, depending on your state. Is there any indication in the listings what the people's actual crimes were?

The registry for my area lists the ages of the victims. We had one living across the street from us who molested a 4-year-old! He just got out of jail. I don't think he is in the neighborhood anymore, but I see him around town.

[Marsupialmom]

I am more afraid of the unknown that the known.

I also know that a child molestor is more likely to be someone that I willingly let into my home/trust.

I don't know how your resistry is done but as other said because the name is on the list does not necessarily mean much. One of our dear friends is on the sexual preditor registary because he mooned someone. It was how he was charged and convicted. It was a stupid immature stunt that he did at 18. The problem was his ex-girlfriends 15 year old sister was in the car so it made the charges different than if it had been adults.

Also depending on the state at 17 year old can be charged and convicted of statutory rape if he has sex with a 15 year old.

Please read Protecting the Gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!