3/10/09 AWA HEARING
CONGRESS TAKES FIRST STEPS IN GETTING SMART ON CRIME
March 10, 2009
Today Congress began a much needed and long overdue PUBLIC Hearing on the Adam Walsh Act and SORNA.
A link to the hearings can be found here: http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090310_1.html
The Video May Be Viewed By Clicking Here: http://sdp123a.com/ You will be looking for the March 10, 2009 SORNA Hearing.
This was an extremely positive step in the right direction in terms of protecting children and preventing sexual abuse. For the first time ever, individuals and groups from ALL sides of the issues were represented. Given the fact that the Adam Walsh Act was passed in secret and behind closed doors makes these hearings unique as the public is now privy (as it should have been all along) to the goings on behind the scenes of the creation of the Adam Walsh Act otherwise known as the AWA.
Detective Robert Schilling of the Washington Police Department and Interpol specializing in sex crimes and prevention had some powerful words for Congress and the General Public which we would all do well to heed.
And he wasn't alone in his thinking. For the first time that I know of, the many studies on recidivism commissioned by states and paid for with taxpayer dollars detailing the impact (if any) that sex offender registration and notification laws have had were brought up and openly discussed. Many of these studies can be found here.
Prosecutors, Police, The SMART Office, Congressmen and women and yes, even "Ernie the Attorney" Allen with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children stated on the record that society paints ALL sex offenders with the same broad brush and that there were people on the registry who pose no danger to anyone. They are not the violent and dangerous John Couey types which come to mind when we hear the term Sex Offender. Names for which these laws were designed and passed after the commission of horrifcly heinous crimes and for which ALL registrants retroactively suffer under.
More than once it was said that our resources must be focused on those most dangerous and most violent. It was also stated that the registries have become diluted and watered down because we have far too many people on them for crimes of statutory rape. Crimes which do not warrant the fear and contempt that comes with the label of "Sex Offender'.
What an epiphany!
My hats off to the individuals and groups that took time out to address and research this vital topic and how seek ways which we can best use our limited resources to the highest degree of effectiveness to protect our children. To focus on PREVENTING crimes before they happen rather than seeking laws of vindictiveness and applying them to an entire sub-class of citizens who in many cases receive penalties which far outweigh the crime which they committed.
Check back for updates on future Congressional AWA Hearings!
TAGS: Jessica's Law, Megan's Law, Mark Lunsford, Robert Schilling
