Perry Proposes Tougher Laws for Sex Offenders
At a press conference in Houston today, Gov. Rick Perry proposed even tougher laws against sex offenders in Texas. "These steps will help ensure that sexual predators pay the price for their crimes and do not have the freedom to destroy lives again,” he said in a press statement.
Texas is notorious for its tough-on-crime approach, especially for sex offenses. Lawmakers passed a law in 2007 that allowed the death penalty for certain repeat child sex offenders. But the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that provision in 2008.
In this latest effort to crack down on sex offenders, Perry says ...
Comments (18)
Ray Hill
As if the existing laws were not draconian enough, now after all those years in office, Bozo Perry want to announce the "new" plan to make them tougher. He just needs attention and probably treatment.
Paul Bartells
Governor Perry is out of touch with this whole issue. He knows it's a political hot button that many people think is a good thing. Unfortunately, many of those individuals really know nothing about the problem except for all the 'scary stories' put out by the various media. Those of us who have examined the facts or who have been personally impacted by these 'tough' laws know that they were passed for political purposes, because many of our legislators are afraid to vote for anything that might appear favorable or supportive of the thousands of non-violent, non-predatory individuals who stepped over a line they didn't even know was there. Many of the existing laws do nothing to protect the public and are wasting a fortune of taxpayer money. Perry's $1.7 million dollar grant is just a drop in the bucket of what these new laws will cost the state of Texas. What is really needed is a move back to square one on these laws and to actually consider which offenders really need to be registered for the safety of the public and which ones were only guilty of a one-time mistake and don't deserve to have their lives ruined for it. I concede that there are individuals who need to be locked up for a long time, but I also know that there are others who made a mistake once and won't do it again. This thinking that 'once an offender, always a danger' has to stop. The current system is broken and should be fixed before piling more laws on top of them. Do some research on the subject of sexual offenders and I think you will come to agree that what we have doesn't work and that real change is needed.
earl anthony
rick perry has no idea what all his one law fits all sex offender laws cover.someone that has consensual sex with his girlfriend,someone that just look at a pron web,someone that takes a leak behind a building (etc),someone walks from one room in his house to anther room and passer byer sees him by looking into his house cal police,he is a sex offender.if a man looks at womans breast,private area or looks at to long,he's asex offender.all of you law makers this happen to you.don't make a woman up set at you,we could see your name on the sex offenders list.rick perry this could happen to you,unless you are above the law and your law makers.there should be a three tier laws for sex offenders, like muders have.muders have first degree muder,second degree muder,and manslauter.if we had a three tier sex offender laws it would make it easer for judges and not tie up the courts with sex offehders that are not a threat to our children and commuties.a person that molest a small child should get more than someone that has sex with his girlfriend.someone that raps,kidnaps and murders aomeone should recieve the max.it's time our governors and law makers start using common sence.i'd like to ask all the law makers and rick perry,and everyone that reads this HOW OLD WHERE YOU WHEN YOU FELL IN LOVE(HAD SEX).
cathy cannon
WOW perry makes to make it hardrer on sex offenders? What about all the so called sex offenders that have been exonerated because of unethical practices. Does that mean those found innocent can also blame rick perry for their wrongful imprisonment too? IAM SICK OF RICK PERY AND HIS OUT OF TOUCH POLITICS. He is an evil man and this article just shows how SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH HIS OWN POLICY HE IS. I pray that anyone considering voting for him will look at the man he really is and not the man he wants you to think he is.
WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS MONITORING AND TRACKING OF SEX OFFENDERS? CALIFORNIA TRIED THAT AND IT BACKFIRED IN THEIR FACES.
Lord knows the sex offenders can't pay for it, and their families have been raped by the state as well.
Anyone with any sense knows that NOT EVERYONE ON THE REGISTRY IS A DANGER OR POSES ANY THREAT TO ANYONE AT ALL. Maybe rick perry is a sex offender. HOw old was his first girlfriend?
Jan Gilliland
The trouble with Perry is that he has been in office so long he has lost touch with the people of Texas and with the US in general. I was ready for a change before he made this announcement, now I am sure who I'm not going to vote for in November and I am a die hard Conservative! Now if this new money is going for cracking down and registering REAL predators that's one thing, the problem is that's only about 1% of all sex offenders, and yes they have real victims. There's already plenty of money to do that and thats where it should go, policing the violent offenders and programs to help their victims. The new money he is allocating really needs to go for a task force that will clean up the present system which is clearly barbaric and insane. Perry is going on the fact that a lot of people don't know the truth of the real system, they've been fed a bag of lies. But when the truth is out for everyone to know, he's going to look like a fool. This has nothing to do with tough on crime, it's all about his political career, because clearly he's not listening. The REAL PREDATORS are right inside our houses, or right next door, amongst our family and friends, and that's not what people like Perry who want to run from the truth of the sex offender problem don't want to acknowledge, it's the best kept secret in Texas and everywhere. While we are spending millions of tax payers dollars to POLICE and put back into prison paroled sex offenders who were only convicted in the first place of a one time situational offense, or a romance that was perhaps indiscreet but still not criminal, mooning friends, urinating in an alley, testimony given by a vindictive girlfriend or ex-wife, or a false ID situation, or those who have parole terminated on a technicality because of restrictions that are so tough they are almost impossible to fulfill, while all that money is being wasted to police those individuals, the REAL PREDATORS are on the loose and are not being policed at all. Meanwhile our prisons are full of our men, our sons, our husbands, our boyfriends, our nephews, in fact Texas has a 17% rate of incarcerations, while the promiscuous girls go on as apparent VICTIMS of a sex offender. They can give consent to have sex, get birth control and don't use it, get the false ID's, even get an abortion without consent, but then when found out, the real victim, their 'man' goes to prison for most of his life to provide free labor for an already bursting at the seems prison system. I have been in prison ministry for 18 years, and know of men that are in prison, some are even there because they were lied about, that are there for 10 to 99 years just on the "testimony" of one other person, no facts, just the fabricated story, not even DNA evidence, it's crazy! So when is Perry going to get on the ball, come down out of his mansion and put the money where it really needs to go. CLEAN UP THE PRESENT SYSTEM AND GET THOSE WHO ARE NOT A THREAT TO SOCIETY OFFFFF!!
carole riley
Governor Perry is a predator who is preying on the fear of the public to get votes.
The fear and frenzy created in the public regarding truly predatory sex offenders has caused our country to pass laws bordering on barbarian. Individuals who have used poor judgment and had but one offense in their young adult lives and sometimes even as juveniles are being labeled and singled out to be forever treated as lepers.
It is time for our citizens, our lawmakers, and our leaders to step up and realize that we are allowing fear and hate to make up laws that are violating our constitutional rights and causing certain individuals to be punished for a lifetime for offenses that were, in thousands of cases, the result of poor judgment and lack of self-control at a young age and not the actions of a dangerous predator. These individuals should not have to pay for the rest of their lives for the heinous and horrendous crimes of a few.
Perry Down
Boy, Perry is out of touch with what is going on in his own state! Unless HE were on the registry himself, he wouldn't have a clue what parents and families are going through in this state. I know over 200 former "sex" offenders (all of the ones I know are NOT sex offenders in my opinion!) - I know not a one that ever touched a child or raped a woman or did anything violent at all.
We MUST vote Perry out and get some new blood in there that knows what is going on with these draconian sex offender laws! The others commenting are right, Perry has NO IDEA and is just trying to win votes. Guess what Mr. Perry, there are more "sex offenders" and their family members out there that will vote AGAINST you than you know - you are shameful and need to get back in touch with real life and what lives are ruined by these laws.
I'll vote for anyone but Perry at this point. Otherwise our entire state will go down the tube because of "sex offender" laws that are catching people doing stuff like chatting online with a teenager who is quite willing OR a COP (which WE pay for), tinkling in public, sleeping with their girlfriend who happens to be a few years younger than them, etc. I don't think the registry was EVER meant to have those kind of people on the registry. It was for violent behavior that would be dangerous to the public. I'd rather know the drunk driver who lives next to me than a guy who slept with his girlfriend or chatted with her online!
cathy cannon
How much money has Rick perry received from Sattellite Tracking of People LLC.? THE LOBBYIST FOR THIS COMPANY IS IN HOUSTON. THEY ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY MONIES FOR GPS MONITORING. This company is responsible for tracking of domestic violence offenders, juveniles, sex offendersand gang members. We need to follow the money trail and it is a long , twisty winding trail. This company has received federal, state and county monies for gps monitoring of lots of people. So, we the taxpayers are paying for this too. This company is affiliated with cca, geo and cornell companies, and others. Is perry receiving money from this company? Who knows? What do you think? The lobbyist for this company share the same address of
Sattellite Tracking of People LLC in HOuston.
HOW ARE LOBBYIST ALLOWED TO MAKE DEALS WITH GOVERNMENT LEADERS THAT ARE DEVASTATING AND DETRIMENTAL TO SO MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES. Lets stop being a nation of sheeple!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Molnar
Perry's fear-mongering campaign to "protect the public from sex offenders" is highly misdirected. Texas currently lists over 63,000 on the registry, most of whom pose no threat to anyone. Must Perry conjure up monsters and inflate fears just to gain a few votes? How does he, or anyone else know, who the "high risk" offenders really are? Risk assessment tools are inaccurate and inadequate at best. Give us all a break Perry. Does it always have to be about the money and your own self-serving ideas?
Valerie Parkhurst
The comments would be funny if they werent so self serving..What do sex offenders and their advocates gravitate to every headline that has "sex offender" titled in it? Dont you people have JOBS? For the other readers, be made aware these groups gather on these forums like Maggots to roadkill trying to change the tide of Opinion on tougher laws, they come on like they are Mary or Joe Blow who express outrage at any more attempts to put a shorter leash or tighter collar on these guys. Dont fall for it...Your state needs to gain the Reputation as Very very Sex offender unfriendly..at this juncture They can move just about anywhere they want with a "phoney Plan" they all submit to their PO"S and that is if we" the public" are lucky enough for them to be on some sort of Supervision, most are not due to budget cuts not How dangerous they tend to are, Consider them all Dangerous (especially if their conviction was in the last couple of Years) Most states arent prosecuting for the old "Romeo" excuse anymore..so if they have a recent conviction you can bet the bank it wasnt for peeing on a bush. Your Govenor has witnessed first hand all the weasel clauses these guys slither thru, stand behind him and support him..the Public needs to make the repercussions for sexually based crimes so horrendous that maybe, just maybe one of these poor excuses for DNA will think twice before he commits one...
shelomith stow
The latest polls show Perry has only a small lead over White in the gubernatorial race. So what does Perry do? He calls a press conference to announce his plans to tighten laws against sex offenders, a ploy that has worked for many a politician. This eleventh hour posturing plays to the community’s deepest fears and horrors.
In a recent senate hearing in Austin, the director of the DPS testified that, while the public thinks that all sex offenders are pedophiles and rapists, no more than approximately 12% are actually considered by law enforcement to be a potential danger to the community.
So who are these sex offenders who never touched a child or forced a woman? Many are teens or young adults who consensually touched a slightly too young girlfriend or chatted online with a slightly underage minor or police decoy. They are prepubescent children who played doctor. The Texas registry has had children as young as ten. They are fathers falsely accused by vindictive ex-wives.
Of course there are child molesters and rapists whose violent, predatory crimes deserve long sentences. When or if they are released from prison, they require tight restrictions and close monitoring. But just as someone who gets in a fist fight is not punished the same as someone who commits murder, the low level sex offender should not be punished as if he molested a ten-year-old or raped a woman.
Precious resources are wasted policing and monitoring the majority of sex offenders who pose no risk instead of focusing on those who are truly dangerous. If Perry really cares about public safety, he will encourage reform of the present laws. These new recommendations are a transparent and disingenuous attempt to dupe an uninformed public for political gain.
shelomith stow
Valerie, I just don't know what to make of you. You seem like a very angry and unhappy woman, and for that I am sorry. What about you; do you have a job? There you are in Florida, trolling around for out-of-state issues that you can comment on. I don't know about the other posters, but at least I am a Texan and, as such, are concerned because the current focus on registered sex offenders is putting our children more at risk. You see, Valerie, according to the Justice Dept. and other reputable sources, less than 1% of sexual crime against children is committed by registered sex offenders. Almost all sexual molestation of children occurs at the hands of those in their families and close friends and acquaintances. As long as the total focus and millions in resources are directed toward sex offenders, most of whom have never harmed a child or a woman, parents are deluded into feeling safe, but they shouldn't be. Those whose children have been sexually molested and abused know the truth; the chances are next to none that it was done by a registered sex offender.
Valerie, I pray that God will give you peace and comfort.
cathy cannon
Oh wow valerie, here you are gravitating to the same issue everyone else is. Our state has many reputations. One we are most familiar to is the fact that we really dont like people from other states playing as a poser and attempting to show others how much they really dont know.
miss berry
Ms. Parkhurst, is it true you have stalked registered sex offenders even going as far as pulling a gun on one? I think you need anger management.
You are one of those sheeple that believe everything our government feeds them. Perhaps a cognitive education case class would also be appropriate.
And if this stalking thing of yours continues, you will end up on the registry and have an ankle monitor strapped to your leg. Once this happens you will be required to take sex offender treatment. (Everyone on the registry is treated the same)
Some sex offender treatment providers accept checks, be warned however, if a check bounces you will be required to take hot check classes.
If you fail to jump through all the hoops, your probation could be extended and you could be revoked and sent to prison. You know what they say about RSO's in prison?
Now, just wouldn't that be something?
Valerie Parkhurst
Gotta love you sex offenders, You'll step up to defend the guy who tears the insides out of a four year old, kidnaps and rapes and tries to chew off the body parts of his victim, exposes himself to elementary kids..and/or the Romeo..they are all equally innocent in your eyes..as long as some freak has RSO status ,,you will go to the wall for him..Read up on "stalking" and get your definition correct, your boy "stalked ME for two hours, but being the dutiful little sex offender you are, your good at wrangling a story that leans towards your agenda..and defends the most vile in our society..no wonder the leash just gets shorter on you and the laws get tougher, Do you sex offenders ever ask yourself, "why do we keep doing the same things and expect different results"? Oh thats right, SO's are known for not taking anything to a completed thought until "after" they are convicted...
Valerie Parkhurst
You don't have to "troll" to find these stories..all one needs to do is insert "repeat offenders" into their google search and everyday your in-box will be full of them with links..as far as someone from Florida commenting here, I would say since Florida seems to be a dumping ground for offenders from all states I have more cause for comment than most, so deal with it..Its amazing to me that offenders have an issue with Gov Perry's proposal, think about it..you guys are always inserting the caveat "like its an afterthought", that non-violent offenders shouldn't be subject to the same restrictions as violent ones" right?? The above law proposes that tougher penalties "including the death penalty" be an option for guys who obviously are a danger to all of society, But here you are..crying and moaning about that..Did it ever occur to you that the reason the Public is so harsh on offenders (all offenders) is that the Department of Corrections keeps throwing these guys back into their laps and Neighborhoods and makes NO Distinction as to the Nature of their crimes? Citizens are on "self-preservation mode" and if offenders themselves present a United Front with anyone (no matter what their crime history is) with everyone with SO status don't you think just for a moment, that if you fail to make the distinction between offenders, how do you expect the public too? For Gods sakes, some of you are your own worst enemies. I'll go veeerrryyy ssslllowww for you..Do you ever wonder, if the worst of the worst were not constantly revolving thru the system, that many of the restrictions placed on non-violent offenders would even be necessary? Do you ever wonder, why every offender maintains they just got caught with their underage girlfriend or pee'd on a bush and yet we still have to read about these heinous crimes EVERDAY in the paper? Many committed by the same guys? It would seem to me after these many many years some of you would stop aligning yourself with any and all offenders who committed any crime and would be on board with locking many of these guys up to take the heat of the rest, but you don't do that, which slays me..I have to be honest, most of the public's "give a damn is broken" yet offenders keep using the same arguments with the same tired cliche's and expect to turn the tide of opinion. You don't like me because I am harsh, well these crimes against our vulnerable are harsh and don't expect me to be politically correct and wrap a pink bow around this crap. My point is..if you offenders cant differentiate who needs a needle stuck in their arm and who doesn't ,dont expect me too..You come after me and twist the events that went down with me..my bad guy was a repeat "rapist" who's crime was so heinous Florida Law was changed due to him, he was a career criminal who had no control over his impulses or his hatred of women, now if I can see that "blitz rapist" are an entire different animal, why cant you??
carole riley
Despite all the anger and venom directed at truly dangerous predators and the fact that new laws are suppose to be for those individuals, the fact remains that there are thousands of individuals required to register that are not a danger to children or society and they are not just romeo cases or people who went on a bush. If it's true that the over 700,000 registered nationwide are truly dangerous predators then we should all hide with our kids in our homes and never leave. Research and experts, however, show that is not the case. We all want to protect society and expecially children but "sticking a needle" in every person's arm who has a sex offense isn't going to do that either. One poster's comments state that prosecutors are not prosecuting certain cases anymore because of these laws which is an admission that they need to be channged. Yes, I do a have a loved one who is affected by these laws and I have every right to comment on any and every article I become aware of and suppport and vote for changes to these laws. I am educated and have held a very stable, well paying job for over 23 years. I pay taxes, vote, attend church, and try to be the best citizen I can be just like the majority of Americans. Our Constitution states that every one us gets due process and when found guilty the punishement should fit the crime and we are not to be subjected to ex post facto laws. This requires that the laws allow for the degrees and variations of offenses and not these one size fits all statutes. I, for one, do not trust the Governor's intentions because he had an opportunity to change the laws for certain juvenile offenders and he vetoed the law that was passed by the legislature.
Valerie Parkhurst
ahh Carole a voice of reason..Obviously sex offenders and their advocates havent learned to take the "baby steps" yet. If you want change then I would suggest you unite with a group who empathizes with some of your issues and realizes that certain enforcements are not sustainable. The reason MY side of the fence scores more than Your side of the fence is multi faceted, but to derive real change on any given issue will take both sides advocating for it. Face it, nobody is going to take Sex Offenders seriously..your agenda is too broad and comes off as if you want to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" (the registry)..The registry isnt going anywhere anytime soon..bank on it. People like me wont allow it..but it can be fine tuned. I have always maintained that a NON_violent offender should have the ability to petition off the registry if he walks the straight and narrow for a certain period of time. Obviously details need discussion, debate and open dialogue between all parties..but if All the people present this as a viable alternative to what we have now, it may be taken more seriously. The truth of the matter is, No I dont trust politicians any further than I can throw them, and Society really doesnt care if offenders find their situations unbearable. I get the tougher laws passed..due to all my years of interaction with offenders most should be sitting in a cell not complaining about their constitutional rights..there are some very very bad men out there, and its going to get worse before it gets better for no other reason than MONEY. If you think the screws are tight now? Wait..its going to rain legislation against offenders if the powers that be, dont come up with workable options that satisfies both sides..