3-10-2009 Washington DC:
Was held: Tuesday, 03/10/2009 - 2:00 P.M.
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
By Direction of the Chairman
Rep. Bobby Scott opened the hearing and did indicate that some other folks wanted to tesify (ATSA, John Walsh, Professional Advisory Board of the Coalition for Useful Registry, Lauri Peterson and others [This written testimony is accepted but is then edited -at a later date- to make sure it can be published publically, then it is included in the record of the Committee and published, this can take up to 90 days], it will be nice to see other views) but there was not sufficient time to allow that, instead their written testimony was accepted for the record. (At the present time we do not have links to them)
Below is the prepared testimony of folks who testified, however, there was more said during the question & answer period. Further, for reasons unknown Laura Rogers (former Director of the SMART Office) was added to the folks who were allowed to give testimony, and Rogers did testify, but there is no transcript posted of her testimony. If it becomes available in the future I will post it. (IT IS NOW POSTED see below)
The hearing lasted for about 2 hours and 30 some odd minutes, it was quite good.
Laura Rogers stated: That Congress authorized the U.S. Attorney General to construe the Adam Walsh Act which is written in to that law. She further stated that the USAG then ordered the SMART Office to develop the Guidelines. Rogers also indicated that, at the time the SMART Office was made up of her and one other person and that counsel reviewed the guidelines before publishing them.
Did Congress intend that Administrative employees construe AWA and is that legal? Certainly food for thought!Those that testified were:
Laura Rogers
Previous Director of the Department of Justice SMART Office
Washington, DC
Emma J. Devillier's testimony
Emma J. Devillier
Asst. Attorney General
Criminal Division
Office of the Attorney General of LA
Chief Sexual Predator Unit
Baton Rouge, LA
Madeline Carter's testimony
Madeline Carter
PrincipalCenter for Sex Offender Management
Center for Effective Public Policy
Silver Spring, MD
Ernie Allen's testimony
Ernie Allen
President & Chief Executive Officer
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Alexandria, VA
Mark Lunsford's testimony
Mark Lunsford
Father of Jessica Lunsford
Homasassa, FL
Robert Shilling's testimony
Det. Robert Shilling
Seattle Police Department
Sex and Kidnapping Offender Detail
Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit
Seattle, WA
Amy Borror's testimony
Amy Borror
Public Information Officer
Office of the Ohio Public Defender
Columbus, OH
eAdvocate
5 comments:
Rep. Poe certainly did his share of political grandstanding. At least the rest of the attendeees there were focused on discussing the issues.
Ernie Allen is categorically WRONG in his testimony where he says SO's have the highest rate of recidivism. That statement runs completely counter to USDOJ studies.
One would think that such testimony given false statements would be considered a perjury before Congress. Persons in this official position have no excuse for not knowing the facts about which they testify.
A comment was made I think by Rep. Poe "we have are minds made up do not confuse us with facts". Givent that is the thinking of those in office it is hard to think that they will come around to a point of understanding that sex offender registrys as they are in use today do no good at all. They are to inclusive, and paint all sex offenders the same.
I don't understand what these little conferences are supposed to accomplish. Look at the participants. Seems like a revival for the saved to me. Has anyone tried to figure out why ICE, a Department of Homeland Security agency, is investigating child porn anyway? Shouldn't they be arresting illegal aliens and terrorists trying to get into the US? I didn't think that US citizens with sexual problems was a Homeland Security threat. Preventing terrorists from touching themselves maybe?
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