A thoughtful voice tackling what Miami Herald called ‘the sex offender mess’
Dr. Jill Levenson, associate professor and chair of human services at Lynn University, is sometimes in the unenviable position of being on the right side of a tough issue. A licensed clinical social worker who got her start 20 years ago as a child protection social worker, she is a nationally known expert on sexual violence and has become a respected authority on, among other things, laws aimed at protecting children while punishing, tracking and rehabilitating sex offenders.
Yesterday morning’s Miami Herald included an editorial by Fred Grimm that dissects South Florida’s own ’sex offender mess’ – a problem that some believe is the result of housing restrictions that have kept registered offenders clustered in tight communities and, as is the case in Broward County to our south, in a homeless sect nestled under an interstate overpass.
In an effort to find a better way to protect the county’s children, Broward recently created an independent commission to examine new alternatives. Chairing the commission is our own Dr. Levenson, whose work has shown, among other things, that rules imposing housing restrictions on sex offenders can sometimes create more problems than they solve (as may be the case in Fort Lauderdale).
In his editorial today, Grimm applauded the work of this commission.
“The task force charged by the Broward County Commission with finding a way out of the conundrum created by sex offender residency restrictions has listened to experts, crunched numbers and discussed a dismaying array of unintended consequences,” he wrote.
“They discussed better solutions than laws that forced registered sex offenders into homelessness; that left parole officers with no alternative but to send them to live under a highway bridge; that encouraged sex offenders to cluster in neighborhoods with less restrictive ordinances.
…
They pushed beyond the emotional stuff and dug for what made sense.
It was the kind of thoughtful examination needed to sort out a complicated and volatile problem.”
What stuck out to me were those two words: “thoughtful examination.” If you know Dr. Levenson, you know those two words fit her well. She applies her more than two decades of field work and expansive research to projects aimed at finding real solutions. Sometimes, this approach – favoring research over knee jerks – has drawn scrutiny from some corners where voters and lawmakers favored fast action to a slower, if more productive, approach. But more and more people in government (as in Broward County) and the media (like Grimm) are seeing the value in that method.
I, for one, was glad to see this approach (so common to university faculty in general but especially, Dr. L) gaining traction here at home. Bravo Jill! And best of luck to you and the commission.
11 Comments
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com
Get another opinion on how this meeting went, contact Mary at Ricky’s Life web site below:
And also, visit my blog(s) to get a lot more facts, news articles and studies showing recidivism levels are low, and these laws do not work.
And this Human Rights Watch report:
http://hrw.org/reports/2007/us0907/
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/09/06/usdom16819.htm
And like me, Valerie is not an EXPERT in the field, yet she just dismisses anything experts say.
Here blog is here:
http://sexoffenderissues-valigator.blogspot.com/
And visit the Julia Tuttle Causeway YouTube page to see more about the MESS under the bridges in Florida.
http://www.youtube.com/user/JuliaTuttleCauseway
http://www.youtube.com/user/SexOffenderIssues002
C’mon Val, you know the state’s only “solution” is to increase statewide residency restrictions to make it uniform to appease the cities trying to pass more restrictive ordinances. But increasing residency restrictions statewide from 1000 feet to 1500 feet is robbing Peter to pay Paul. They will displace thousands of registrants who pose no threat to the public in order to provide a couple of slums to the Julia Tuttle Causeway residents. Past “solutions” thought up by those allegedly on the side of victims ended up doing more harm than good. Just ask the state of Iowa, who has repealed a 2000 foot residency law for most registrants. Florida should do the same. More facts at http://www.oncefallen.com/ResidenceRestrictionsFacts.html
Tom
I find this all very hard to swallow . You create a sex offender camp segregate sex offenders after they have done there time in prison and continue to pass legislation that clearly punishes them NO END ! You have them living under bridges and on the streets thinking this is going to keep your children safe , What I would like to know is how is this keeping any one safe ? And what about the safety of the people that you have made homeless ? I find it odd that parents are not looking at there own parenting skills to look after there children , instead they are relying on feel good laws that do nothing at all to protect any one to do the parenting ! What also bothers me about all this is that the constitution and bill of rights was made for every one not just the people you deem desirable ! Segregation is against the constitution and bill of rights ! Another thing that gets me is that any time any one talks about sex offender rights they are also demonized , ridiculed and dismissed as being one them selves !
When you make a law that is X-Post-Fact-o pass it and have what you have now a huge mess what I find hard to swallow is just how much money that is costing tax payers and Just how this benefits not only the children but how this is affecting the human rights of people as well . Why is it that once a drug dealer , manslaughter , drunk driver , home robber , thief , or any other criminal get’s out of prison there punishment is over ? but a sex offender is constantly being punished even after serving there time ! Is this right ? NO it is not right ! Is this going to protect a child ? NO it will not ! Is this just making the sheeple feel good and get the public officials votes from them sheeple ? YES IT DOES THAT ! So just how well are the sex offender laws and punishment working out ? Well ? Tell me ONE child that has been protected at all in any way from any one sex offender law ? Now I can tell you NONE ! Not one Law that is on the books have done any thing at all but create a huge HUMAN RIGHTS MESS , and continue to add punishment far beyond the prison bars ! Now ask is that what this country is all about ? Is that what we do as American’s ? Then why not EVERY criminal ? It is easy to over look every one just not the sex offender ! When is the punishment over for them and just tell me why .
Jackie
My dear Valigator, errr I meant Valerie.
If you want to talk about childish, brat-like behavior at the Broward County Task Force meeting, you would need only look in the mirror.
Dr. Levenson has more experience in this area than you have in your small minded brain, that is for sure. She HAS been saying the same things, and maybe her research data looks the same with a different date, but there’s a reason for that. SHE’S RIGHT, and she’s BEEN right from the beginning. The facts are the facts and the truth is the truth, what do you want her to do, change the information up so it’s different and not care that THAT would be a lie?
What makes you think that YOU are some kind of expert in this subject? Just what schooling have you had, or hands-on experience have you had in working with the sex offender population? I’ve read your B.S. now for some time, and I heard you spouted the same tired rhetoric (very rudely I might add) at the task force meeting, so I’d like to know what YOUR credentials are.
There is one thing I have learned over the years, and that is that disseminating one’s thoughts and ideas in a loud and rude fashion, generally means they don’t know their butt from a hole in the ground in the topic they are trying to participate in. That’s held true for me all along, and from the ridiculousness of your arguments, I see that it is still holding true. When one’s information stems from personal bias, bigotry, and hatred, the only way they CAN be heard is to be loud and rude. Newsflash, being heard is miles away from being listened to.
I know what you do for a living, and that scares me, it truly does. I wouldn’t want someone like you caring for me in my most weakened state. I can feel your hate through a computer screen, I can only imagine it’s palpable in person.
I heard you on Fallenone’s radio program, oh how sweet and nice you sounded. You had to have been on tranquilizers. I heard you on American’s Reality Check, same thing.
You speak with forked tongue lady, so you can knock the nicey nice off. Fallenone may have “fallen” for your crap, but the rest of us have not.
Dr. Levenson is WAY above your league, you better go back and play with the folks wallowing in the mud.
Valerie-
The reason that “…this States failure to predict and prepare for events that are taking place…” is because of the zealous attitude that the lobbyists and legislators in Florida are approaching this issue (I include the outspoken nature of your comments in there as well).
If an unemotional approach is taken, then the true nature of the problem immediately becomes clear. Then, it’s a matter of how to save public face, while trying to clean up the mess created.
And it’s the “saving public face” that is the hardest part of the whole thing…
Emotions are the hardest things to control, and when one is dealing with an emotional subject such as sex offender issues, there is bound to be this lack of control on both sides. Thus the facts should prevail.
Fact: “Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, conclude that restricting where offenders may live does not prevent repeat sex crimes.” “Veeder and English say restrictions like those that swept through the suburbs beginning in the late ’90s work against public safety.”
“The Colorado research, based on a 2004 survey of sex offenders, found that high-risk sex offenders living in shared living arrangements had significantly fewer probation and criminal violations than those living in other living arrangements.”
From a 2007 Minnesota Department of Corrections study: “It is unlikely that residency restrictions would have a deterrent effect because the types of offenses such a law is designed to prevent are exceptionally rare and, in the case of Minnesota, virtually nonexistent over the last 16 years.”
Fact: Re-offense rate averages, for auto theft -78.8%, possession/sale of stolen property -77.4%, burglary -74%, robbery -70.2%, larcenist -74.6%, SEX offenders – 3.5%. From the USDOJ
Fact: The study; “Banishment By a Thousand Laws: Residency Restrictions on Sex Offenders.” Establishing the connection to banishment punishments helps to explain the unique legal, policy, and ethical problems these laws create for America. Ultimately, residency restrictions could fundamentally alter basic principles of the American criminal justice system. While those supporting these laws have the interests of children at heart, the policies they are promoting will be worse for children and society.
Fact: The Study; “Sex Offender Residence Restrictions: Sensible Crime Policy Or Flawed Logic?” Residence laws are often based on erroneous assumptions about sex-offender high reoffending rates and the belief that most sex offenders target strangers for victimization. In addition, they are rarely coupled with the administration of proven risk-assessment instruments and procedures.
If these FACTS account for nothing, then emotion is leading the day. And what emotion comes to the fore? Hate.
In many areas these laws are fanned by former victims and/or HATE groups. While there must be concern for these former victims, the laws they demand are in FACT, HATE based. They are biased, they are not informed, and they are irrational, intolerant, prejudice! What place do laws of PREJUDICE have in the United States?
Quote “Valerie Parkhurst Says, “Invite an offender to Dinner””
What a wonderful idea Val, you are a forward thinking person! We will let others know of your idea.
Quote “Valerie Parkhurst Says, “Invite an offender to Dinner””
I have had more than one offender in my house and sit down at my table.
These guys are as sound as a rock and not a threat to anyone.
A. Xylander
Since when have laws like these become the American standard and practice? These types of laws attack the constitution of the United States, a document that affords all American citizens protections from the government and people like Ms. Parkhurst. I have watched as other citizens and politicians turn and burn the Constitution for their own needs, and apply only the parts they pick and choose, and only to the people the think should be covered by it. Far too long I have heard the voice of the people that have no legitimacy to speak on subjects they know nothing about, and try to quell the voice of those that do. This minority may be under the impression that they are right and just, but when the truth is they are nothing but terrorist and sex offenders themselves when they rape and pillage the one document that is the very core and essence of our great country, the United States Constitution. Maybe its time we start to register these people, and force them from their homes and families. Maybe we should harass them to no end and create vile and evil laws to shape and govern their lives. Maybe we should, but then again, wouldn’t that make us the monster we’re here speaking out against. No matter how we feel about a person or their behaviors, we should never impart such a life on them, no matter how vile or evil we perceive them to be!
Valerie Parkhurst 7/3/09 8:54 pm
Obviously you didnt attend the task force meetings. I doubt “thoughtful examination” would be the words to express this debachle. Dr. Levenson was surely outgunned on this issue along with her cohort, Bill Schoolman Browards infamous ACLU attorney who’s only contribution was his threat of litigation used as every punch-line when members questioned and or disagreed with him.. In as much as Dr. Levenson would like to add this Task force to her resume’ she should probably forego that detail in her overall accomplishments. She behaved dismally when her “studies” were brought into question and responded with all the decorum of a spoiled child who had her candy taken away.
I have followed Dr. Levenson’s studies, quotes and opinions on sex offender issues for many many years. These so-called studies consist of the same very tired arguments with a new date. Dr. Levenson’s title as the go-to person on this issue for the State of Florida has worn itself thin and her contributions at this point are as half-empty as her contribution to this task force. The fact every sex offender in the country considers her the “Golden Guru” on the trials and tribulations of their “tales of woe”, should be a red flag that Jill Levenson just might not be the person to look at this issue with fresh eyes. From what I observed, Dr. Levenson is way past her prime on this problem. Her only solutions seem to be on the verge of “Invite an offender to Dinner” campaign, rather than look at this States failure to predict and prepare for events that are taking place as I write this. Times have changed and for Dr. Levenson its easier to try and push the ever increasing amount of offenders right back on the very people they prey off of. She consistantly ignores the fact that the Department of Corrections, our Judicial Powers lack of will and budgetary ills will always be factors in the discussions and ultimate legislation effecting all the Parties involved. Dr. Levenson’s career has been woefully disappointing in this arena. For her to be obtaining one dollar of the states resources for her “scientific opinions” at this juncture is pure theft. Her past performance is proof positive that her time has come and gone. The State of Florida has never been more critical or in as much crisis than it is now. Obviously we havent gotten our monies worth from Dr. Levenson and her abundant “studies”.