New Bill in Congress: Rep Sensenbrenner wants $331 MILLION more for the Adam Walsh Act (The Money Pit)

1-21-2012 National:

HR 3796 "Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2012" was introduced by Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] (introduced 1/19/2012) Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (Which he is Chairman of)

Stated Intent: To reauthorize certain programs established by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

The bill states:

SEC. 2. SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE (SOMA) PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION.

Section 126(d) of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16926(d)) is amended to read as follows:

`(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2013 through 2017, to be available only for--

`(1) the SOMA program; and

`(2) the Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant Program established under section 631.'.

SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO VIOLATIONS OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

Section 142(b) of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16941(b)) is amended by striking `such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2009' and inserting `$46,200,000 for each of the fiscal years 2013 through 2017'.

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Rep Sensenbrenner is a genius when it comes to getting what he wants, he is sly like a fox, here is his carrot, the reason why no one will vote against this bill:

SEC. 4. DURATION OF SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN JUVENILES.

Subparagraph (B) of section 115(b)(2) of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16915(b)(2)) is amended by striking `25 years' and inserting `15 years'.

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Currently that subsection (42 U.S.C. 16915(b)(2)) regarding juveniles says:

(2) PERIOD.—In the case of—

(A) a tier I sex offender, the period during which the
clean record shall be maintained is 10 years; and

(B) a tier III sex offender adjudicated delinquent for
the offense which required registration in a sex registry
under this title, the period during which the clean record
shall be maintained is 25 years.

Lets discuss this for a minute. Does anyone remember my Nov. 2011 post "Adam Walsh Act - Second Chance Act and More Receive Appropriations through Agriculture Bill." Within that sneaky appropriation, couched as an Agriculture Law, was a ton of money for the Adam Walsh Act (the way its constructed, it is hard to figure an exact number, mostly because grants are issue for AWA out of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which received $470 MILLION then).

OK, AWA has been around now for 5-years, and has sucked up multiple tons of money, and there isn't one ounce of proof that it is doing anything but providing jobs for police. i.e., sucking up taxpayer funds under the guise of public safety.

NOTE: From the original Congressional Budget Office report for the Adam Walsh Act in 2005: "Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4472 would cost about $1.5 billion over the 2006-2011 period." then "The bill also would add requirements for state, local, and tribal governments to receive full funding from three existing grant programs to track sex offenders. Assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts, CBO estimates that over $900 million would be available for fiscal years 2006 through 2010 for those governments to meet the new requirements for tracking sex offenders and to participate in other grant programs. Any additional costs to those governments would be incurred voluntarily as a condition of receiving this federal aid."

Verification of Registration by Sex Offenders. H.R. 4472 would require states, Indian tribes, and U.S. territories to verify the residence of sex offenders at least once a year. Based on information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), CBO estimates that about 450,000 sex offenders nationwide would be affected by this provision. Because of the large number of offenders affected, we expect that about 40 states would need to hire additional staff to handle this duty. Assuming that each of those states would need two additional staff members whose annual salary and benefits would be, on average, $50,000, we estimate this provision would require funding of about $10 million over the 2006-2008 period. This total also includes amounts necessary to cover the costs of postage to contact offenders.

U.S. Marshals. The bill would require the U.S. Marshals Service to assist states in finding and apprehending sex offenders who violate registration requirements. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, there are about 100,000 sex offenders whose whereabouts are unknown to local law enforcement. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, in fiscal year 2004, the agency received almost 95,000 total warrants and resolved close to 90 percent of them. The agency expects that it would need to hire 350 new Marshals to take a lead role in executing a significant number of additional warrants for unregistered sex offenders. CBO estimates that the additional Marshals would cost $25 million in fiscal year 2007 and $220 million over the 2006-2011 period, including costs for space, training, supervision, and support staff.

And the list goes on and on, consider, we've spent -and- will spend, what in the future? Is there any question as to whether AWA is a money pit that needs to be closed?

AWA has been amended several times over the past 5-6-years, and not one amendment for some kind of study to prove its value, prove it is accomplishing public safety. The hypothetical belief that it does, doesn't cut it any more, time for proof. Time to put a cover on the Money Pit, and close it for good, simply repeal it (wishful thinking)!

As to his Juvenile CARROT, forget it, whether a juvenile has been on the registry 15 or 25 years no longer matters, his/her life was destroyed when they were FIRST put on the registry. See video "True Life: I'm A Sex Offender" as an example. Juveniles should not be on the registry at all!

Accordingly, I urge everyone to contact their Washington DC, Representatives and Senators, telling them to vote NO when this bill comes before them; STOP the INSANITY (AWA).

For now, have a great day and a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate