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<P><STRONG>Saundra, I read that yesterday evening and thought it wasn't enough information, because nowhere does it mention exactly what you brought up. . . that the convicted molester was allowed out of jail unsupervised for therapy for a year. The newspaper needs to make that point really clear to the public because I'd be willing to bet most of Latah County doesn't have a clue.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>Yesterday, on CNN, they were reporting about a little girl back east who fought off an attacker after school. Family members held him down until the authorities picked him up. It was reported as an attempted kidnapping. He was out on the streets the next day.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>So, it looks like the way authorities/courts handle child preditors is a problem in many communities across America.</STRONG></P><STRONG></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Ellen Roskovich</STRONG>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"Saundra Lund" <sslund@roadrunner.com></I><BR>To: <I><vision2020@moscow.com></I><BR>Subject: <I>[Vision2020] OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex offender sentencing</I><BR>Date: <I>Thu, 17 May 2007 16:43:11 -0700</I><BR>>This is from yesterday's paper, and I thought it pretty good. Personally, I<BR>>think it's revolution time in Idaho -- it is sheer insanity, IMHO, that we<BR>>allow convicted predators out of jail UNSUPERVISED to get themselves to and<BR>>from therapy.<BR>><BR>>SL<BR>><BR>>"OUR VIEW: Time to revisit sex offender sentencing<BR>>By Murf Raquet, for the editorial board<BR>><BR>>Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM<BR>><BR>>Victims of crime expect and deserve justice.<BR>><BR>>Victims often suffer the tragic consequences of a crime
long after the trial<BR>>and incarceration of the guilty.<BR>><BR>>Sentencing is predicated on many factors, including the type of crime and an<BR>>offender's record. The worse the crime, the longer the time.<BR>><BR>>That's not quite how it works in Idaho, and that must change.<BR>><BR>>It is expected that murderers will spend longer in jail than someone who<BR>>steals a loaf of bread.<BR>><BR>>Likewise, you would expect a sex offender to spend more time locked up than<BR>>a person convicted of a drunken brawl. In Idaho, though, that sex offender<BR>>could be back on the street in less than two years.<BR>><BR>>Recently, a man convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child<BR>>under the age of 16 was released on parole after serving 20 months of a life<BR>>sentence. He is a first-time offender.<BR>><BR>>The average
time in an Idaho prison for any sex offender is about 42 months.<BR>><BR>>We believe the system is broken if it allows such short sentences.<BR>><BR>>Child molestation is a heinous crime. The victim usually knows the<BR>>perpetrator and is trusting of that person.<BR>><BR>>The molester violates that trust and robs the child of so much more we hold<BR>>important.<BR>><BR>>Prison is the preferred form of vengeance in our society. Prison also is<BR>>supposed to "rehabilitate" the offender.<BR>><BR>>Serving 20 months hardly will achieve either result.<BR>><BR>>The victim and victim's family must be able to feel secure in their lives as<BR>>they adjust to post-crime life. Often it takes years of therapy. Knowing the<BR>>person who assaulted you is back on the streets is of little comfort.<BR>><BR>>We don't advocate locking every sex
offender away for life without parole.<BR>><BR>>If, however, the legal system continues to utilize prison as its main source<BR>>of deterrent and retribution then use it like you mean it.<BR>><BR>>The number of sex-abuse cases involving children are increasing. Something<BR>>must be done to bring down that number. The problem will not go away if the<BR>>offenders are walking the streets with monitors on their ankles."<BR>><BR>><BR>>=======================================================<BR>> List services made available by First Step Internet,<BR>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<BR>> http://www.fsr.net<BR>>
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