Mayor Seeks to Make City A Sex Offender-Free Zone

[Freddie Stubbs]

Proposed measure to expand "buffer zones" is sailing to quick enactment

By MANUEL ROIG-FRANZIA
The Washington Post

MIAMI BEACH -- Sprinkled among the pulsing dance clubs, flashy cars and all-night, everynight glitter of this adult playground are pockets of another world. There are 15 schools and 38 parks in this gangly, 71/2-milelong barrier-island city, each pulsing with a sound of its own: children's voices.

Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer is close to building a virtual wall around the children, rewriting municipal law to almost entirely block registered sex offenders from moving into his city. If Dermer succeeds -- his proposal was passed unanimously in the first of two required votes -- experts say Miami Beach would have one of the most restrictive sex-offender policies in the United States.

Dermer's measure would more than double the buffer zone required between the homes of registered sex offenders and schools, parks, school bus stops or any "place where children regularly congregate." It is one in a flurry of proposals inspired by the arrests of registered sex offenders in the separate killings of two central Florida girls whose bodies were found one month apart.

The slayings of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford and 13-year-old Sarah Lunde have led to proposed state laws that would require lifetime monitoring of some sex offenders by global satellite positioning systems, mandatory quarter-century prison terms for sex offenses against children younger than 12, and automatic jailing of sex offenders who violate probation until a judge can determine whether they represent a threat.

more: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050426/NEWS/504260408/1004

[whistle]

1. With 2 million snow birds coming down each year along with....

...20 million tourists, just how does Mayor Dermer plan to enforce the anti-sex offenders law. More insane knee jerk reactions by politicians.

[rodeodance]

2. this mayor was on some talk show last night--He seems confident that

he can make this happen.

[rodeodance]

3. oh course South Beach -right next door-will NOT like this plan

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. South Beach is a part of the City of Miami Beach

This proposal was approved unanimously by the City Commission.

[redqueen]

4. Why only a quarter century?

Why not life sentences with no parole for sex offenses against children?

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Patience, that will come eventually

[outrage]

8. Why not life sentences with no parole for sex offenses against children?

why stop at children? Any sex offender guilty of a crime against a child or aggravated rape against an adult should be locked up for life, period. Don't forget sex offenders offend against adults too. Remember that poor girl Dru Sjordin? I want to know why level 2 and 3 offenders are even allowed out on the street. Every time I hear about the latest child or woman being raped and murdered by a level 2 or 3 I want to scream. Sexual sadist have no business being out on parole at all.

[redqueen]

12. Yes, I agree...

I was going with the example in the post above.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. That will probably happen eventually

When the public get pissed off enough by one of these crimes.

[LostinVA]

14. I agree 100% -- they escalate crime

You very rarely (if ever?) hear of a woman or child raped, tortured, and murdered by someone who hasn't served time for sexual assault, molestation of a child, etc. These type of offenders just can't stop, they ESCALATE. Robert Ressler, John Douglas, and other profilers agree that serial rapists start with exposing themselves or being a "peeping tom." That's why I HATE reading (even in DU!) that such and such a person "only" exposed themselves. It's not funny. It's a sexual crime that will most probably lead to something worse.

[mccoyn]

22. Do 100% go on to become murderers?

Has every person who has served time for sexual assault, molestation of a child, etc go on to rape, torture and murder woman and children? If not I don't see how you can punish them all for life because some of them might be very bad. I do see good reason for long sentances and psycological examination.

[Newsjock]

5. And here's why this is even an issue at all

From further on in this story:

The long reach of 24-hour cable news that provide frequent updates on such crimes has played a huge role in the push for new laws.

Keep in mind that, especially among older Americans, a not-insignificant number of "registered sex offenders" are gay men who were prosecuted decades ago under discriminatory, outdated laws. To think that Miami Beach would be considering such a Draconian action is just one more indication of how far and how fast this nation has sunk.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Actually, there are only 36 sexual offenders registered in the city

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/2005/04/21/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/beaches/11372511.htm

[rodeodance]

21. you are right.

.....To think that Miami Beach would be considering such a Draconian action is just one more indication of how far and how fast this nation has sunk........

[Misunderestimator]

9. Surely there are some leper colonies around we could just ship them to?

:sarcasm:

Miami Beach?!? Are they kidding? There will be an awful lot of people caught up in that subjective net. How about fixing the GODDAMN system instead!

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Why would Miami Beach have lot of people "caught up in that subjective

net?" What is so unique about Miami Beach?

[Misunderestimator]

17. I'll just quote from post #5 on this thread

from the article:

Keep in mind that, especially among older Americans, a not-insignificant number of "registered sex offenders" are gay men who were prosecuted decades ago under discriminatory, outdated laws. To think that Miami Beach would be considering such a Draconian action is just one more indication of how far and how fast this nation has sunk.

(On edit, in case you don't know, Miami Beach has a large gay community.)

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. There are only 36 registered sex offenders in Miami Beach

That's out of 87,000 people. This proposal has been out for almost two weeks now and so far there has been no outcry for Miami Beach's gay community.

[rodeodance]

20. I do not think the gay community wants to get involved with 'sex offender

[madrchsod]

10. sex offenders should never be released

[oneold1-4u]

15. Lock up "ALL"

Come on! Any woman who has lived fifty years and not been some kind of recluse can tell you why this will never happen. Gender control of the laws and courts will always play down what is believed to be "normal" for the male of the species! In simpler definition: Rape of female persons of any age is preferable to bestiality! Just be reasonable! Take a guess why only maybe five in a thousand sex offenses is ever reported! Most children, male and female, have been assaulted in some manner before they start to school!(age 5) Multiply this by 10 and you get a score of 50! People have to understand that the .001% who are reported, convicted, and on a list will never deter the crime!

[maxrandb]

18. Is He Requiring all the "Fundies" to Move? n/t