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what to do when a sex offender moves in

Posted by Floormodel • 10/14/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: fear, parolees, Protection, second chances

this topic hit home for me.
Last week we received a notice that a level 3 sex offender has moved in one street over.
A man who was convicted of 1st degree rape of a stranger, 1st degree sexual abuse, and 3rd degree rape. He was sentenced and served his time. Apparently he was allowed to relocate here after serving his time in a different part of the state.

Level three = The risk to the communbity is high.

I handled it about as well as expected with a total freak out and security check of all our doors and windows. I no longer take my granddaughter for walks around the neighborhoods and only take her out in the yarde when neighbors are around. This is an older neighborhood, mostly elderly and a few young families. I ran into a few neighbors over the weekend and found out they had no idea.

My question is:
how would you handle this? would you figure he'd served his time and deserves a fair chance to prove he's gone straight? would you live in fear? protect your family by purchasing a weapon?

User Comments

10/14/09

dbowles1017

doesn't he have to inform the neighbors that he is a sex offender?

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1. 10/14/09
  
  Floormodel
  
  I'm not sure that he does. I think he has to notify the police dept. The police dept. left me the notice on the door.
10/14/09

MadameX

With reasonable caution. I'd be aware of the fact that every time I go out, there's a possibility that I'm walking by a convicted (or as yet unconvicted) rapist, and that nothing has really changed except that I'm aware of specifically what I'm looking out for.

I'd also factor in that he probably wants to stay out of prison, and that grabbing someone with a child off the street in the middle of the day is probably a poor way to do that. I wouldn't walk around alone at night unless I were armed; I wouldn't visit his home and I wouldn't do anything to attract his attention to myself or my family, but other than that...go on with my life. The world is full of threats that haven't been named, and the ones with labels aren't any more dangerous.

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10/14/09

acousticguitarist

you can either complain, go the media and also keep an eye on the hundreds of thousands of others that you don't realise are offenders. When I set up a healing from sexual abuse site, i was getting emails everyday and talking to people who had been raped and sexually abused by family members, supposed family friends and members of the clergy.

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1. 10/14/09
  
  LolitaV
  
  care to share the link?
10/14/09

Floormodel

all I've done is stop walking around alone with my granddaughter during the times no one's around in the neighborhood. We also are aware of unlocked doors and windows. My street has mostly elderly and a few teens on it. The street he moved onto has appx. fifteen children from ages 7 - 16 who play outside. I hope their parents are alert and aware. I agree there's not much else we can do.

When I looked him up on the state website, he wasn't even listed as being released yet. They really need to update that site a little better.

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10/14/09

clioandme

One piece of the puzzle would be to make sure you know your neighbors, their kids, and so on.

I suppose owning a friendly family dog wouldn't hurt either.

But I would otherwise go on living as before, assuming that I had been pretty aware of my surroundings and the people in them too.

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10/14/09

chicky401

I live in an urban area where for the most part nothing bad happens but I pretty much know that I can't fully trust many of the people around me here. Most are not too bad but many have enough issues. Unfortunately yes there are sex offenders around me but we only know by looking it up on the web. Maybe they are not as severe as the person you are talking about as we never get notices. I know that at any moment something could happen here and chances are it probably won't happen here but if you keep that clear in your mind then you are more aware of surroundings. We don't hear of rapes in our town just muggings, stabbings and other problems. And we do have a bunch of offenders around.
Take notice of your surroundings and you should be ok.

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10/14/09

blackwater

I can sort of relate, but of a different type of scenario.

I was raised for a short while in parts of Lawrence that were controlled by gangs, and people used to get killed there for wearing the wrong colored clothing.

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10/14/09

offendedblogger

Honestly, I'd handle it the same way I handle knowing that I live in a society where anyone, including those who haven't been caught and/or registered yet, lurk nearby and may do harm.

I use common sense, and keep my doors and windows locked. I watch out for my neighbors and they do the same for me. I have dogs which will alert me if a stranger approaches.

Best of all (and this next part is not a lure for those who wish to debate politics), I am well armed and have the training, knowledge and experience I need to feel very secure in the fact that I can use my skills in order to protect myself and my children if need be.

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10/14/09

mikeny07

They are all around. At least 500,000 are registered. You have to figure the actual amount of them is higher, because of those who have not got caught.

If you put the figure at say 1 million, that means about 20,000 per state. Worldwide it must be near 5-10 million or more.

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10/14/09

amybyrd21

We have 4 in our tiny community. All different levels. I showed my daughter thier pictures from the sex offenders web site so she knows what they look like. they have the pictures of all but one up there and Hubby went to school with th other one and pointed him out to my daughter. My daughter is 13 so I felt comfortable doing this. My son who is 5 doesnt go any where with out us. We also do not let our children go any where alone. they are every where. I worked for one that was mentally retarded and they had him lving in the same complex as a day care. They have restrictions on them He couldnt go to walmart or anything like that. He had to look at the floor when a child passed by (I do not know who came up with that crazy thing but he did it. As far as handle it having a criminal justice background and a EMT licenses and knowing they are every where I just watch my kids super close.

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10/14/09

HollytheHousewife

You put a sign in your yard stating their names and addresses!!!
I did it!!! Have no shame about it!!!

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10/14/09

Richer44

Is shooting them out of the question?? I don't believe jail will fix these people. Personally, I don't think their sentences are fair either since they will ruin the lives of the people they raped and their families. In that sense, they should also get 25 to life in prison!

I find it funny that someone who commits fraud gets a lot more prison time then someone who rapes or child molests. The damage the rapists or molestor causes is a lot more than the slimy scumball con-artist. It makes no sense to me!

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1. 10/14/09
  
  HollytheHousewife
  
  YESSSS.YESSSS YESSSSS
10/14/09

HollytheHousewife

I know it might sound a little redneck,BUT I rather look like white trash than having one of my babys end up like jessie lundsford!!! I also put a disclaimer saying I have a 20 gauge and know how to use it....if I'm some neurotic crazy oh the hell well...

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10/14/09

HollytheHousewife

I just don't even like this subject I get WAY TOOOOOO unchristian to be in this thread

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