[Vision2020] Fwd: Sex offender legislation

[Sunil Ramalingam]

It is common for sex offenders on probation to travel to Clarkston for 
treatment, here and in Nez Perce County.  There are very few providers in 
this area, and offenders go where treatment is available.  I assume that the 
general public wants those offenders who have been found amenable to 
treatment to obtain that treatment.  This is almost always a term of 
probation, and failure to attend and participate in treatment will result in 
a probation violation.  Judges look at this violation seriously.

I don't think I've seen any sex offenders who have not been found amenable 
for treatment placed on probation; I could be wrong on this, but it is 
difficult to argue for probation and placement in the community when the 
offender is not considered a candidate for treatment.  Certainly those who 
deny having committed the crimes they are charged with are unlikely to be 
considered candidates for treatment.

I do not share the concerns being expressed here about offenders in jail 
being released for treatment.  If these people were considered a threat to 
take off and re-offend while on treatment release, they would not be serving 
time after sentencing in the county jail.  They would be in prison.  They 
would not be on probation, they would be serving out their sentences in 
prison.

The individuals who are being punished by serving county time as a sanction 
for their conduct will most likely be released on probation after serving 
their local jail sentences.  Almost certainly they will continue with 
treatment until released by their treatment providers.  It makes sense to me 
that they get treatment while in jail, prior to their release on probation.

Sunil


>From: "Ellen Roskovich" <gussie443 at hotmail.com>
>To: ttrail at moscow.com, vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Fwd: Sex offender legislation
>Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:40:19 -0700
>
>
>I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to Rep.Tom Trail for 
>quickly responding to all of us concerned citizens on V2020 regarding 
>current sex offender legislation.
>
>Also, a thank you to Jennifer who clarified a few points that 
>deeply concerned me about release practices for sex offenders receiving 
>treatment in, or nearby, our community.
>
>However, there was little comfort to discover that we have not one. . but 
>two sex offenders being released periodically from the Latah County 
>Jail for treatment at this present time.
>
>Is this just SOP and not considered a big deal? We already know it's done 
>in Latah County.   Does it go on everywhere in Idaho? How about Washington 
>state?  Same there?  Do we just swap out our pedophiles for treatment 
>between Latah and Whitman? 
>
>Someone, somewhere made this decision.  I think there are a few of us who 
>are very uncomfortable with this decision and would like to know when and 
>why this practice became and on-going occurence.
>
>I really want to know. . . I'm only asking "why?"
>
>Ellen A. Roskovich
>
> 
>