9-27-2010 Washington DC:
On Wednesday (9-29-2010) of this week the Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, will hold a hearing on "Reauthorizing the Second Chance Act (SCA)." While the SCA is a fine law for most released former offenders, it does EXCLUDE from its benefits, any sex offender, and for the rest of their lives. See:
42 USC 17532 (a) eligible offenders:
(a) Eligible offenders
(1) In general
In this section, the term “eligible offender” means an individual who—
(A) is 18 years of age or older;
(B) has been convicted as an adult and imprisoned under Federal or State law;
(C) has never been convicted of a violent or sex-related offense; and
(D) except as provided in paragraph (2), has been released from a prison or jail for not more than 180 days before the date on which the individual begins participating in a grant program carried out under this section.
The more I think of this Act the more I find it disturbing because it is clearly discriminatory. While it is true that convicted sex or violent offenders cannot claim a right under this Act, they can show how Congress discriminates in lawmaking.
Consider this, both under federal and state laws when a person is convicted of a crime, except for one that requires life in prison, the sentence ends at some point and the person is released back into the community. Those laws place offenders on a equal footing when released.
Public safety is only achieved when all released offenders are allowed to reintegrate back into society and again become law abiding taxpayers. There isn't a lick of logic why lawmakers would not want ALL RELEASED offenders, whatever their earlier crime, to again become law abiding taxpayers. The Second Chance Act excludes certain former offenders. WHY?
It is not logical, except to say that lawmakers HATE these offenders. When lawmakers should be saying, we hate the offenses, but ALL the offenders -since the courts have placed them on equal footing by releasing them- need the same opportunities.
Does our Constitution really permit discriminatory lawmaking? It is discrimination when the law excludes some, when all are on equal footing with others; here that is happening.
Here is a list of everyone on that committee and their contact information, from Bobby Scott (VA)(Chairman) down to the last member.
Here is the task: Start contacting ALL Committee Members and tell them the law MUST change, it must include sex offenders, who are on EQUAL footing in the community with every other released offender.
Please make contact BEFORE the Hearing on 9-29 at 4:00 PM, light up the phones in Washington DC, all the phone numbers are in that link.
For now, have a great day & a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate
Why is it that right wing nut jobs can get together to create the Tea Party Movement, but ex-offenders, their family and friends can not seem to get together on issues that benefit everyone who has been convicted of a crime - including sex offenders?
ReplyDeleteIf people would check the facts for themselves. I have checked my state DOC stats and I have found that only 3% of the sex offenders return to prison for commiting another sex crime. However 75% of all other offenders return for the same crime. So why should their rights be taken? Please check your state DOC stats for yourselves and stop listening to reporters who want to make a name for themselves.
ReplyDeletei was railroaded, presentance was turn in 1 year after i was sentanced. it said i was not to stand trial. When a juinor i tried to start relationship with a 15 year old.. yes that was my mistake, but she was 2 weeks from 16 and i was barley 18. sorry i am slow. always have been. special ed class and all. now i get no breaks or help. when my son was kidnapped, an off duty cop is the one who pulled my son from the person car, and anoter cp questioned the person accomplis. he told the cop im a sex offerner and i should not have a kid, they were going to kill my 3 year old son. the released them both and no charges were pressed because im a sex offender.. i guess being a sex offender removes an and all rights and legals. so it is ok to murder as long as it is to a sex offender.
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