7-25-2009 Michigan:
Grand Rapids (WZZM) - There are thousands of sex offenders in west Michigan. Friday night WZZM 13 News followed Grand Rapids Police as they tracked down 45 offenders who haven't complied with state law. Each one is required to register with the local law enforcement every three months.
WZZM followed two officers. The first check was on Caulfield Street SE.
"I take medicine that sometimes I get confused," said one offender.
Investigators say they hear all kinds of excuses. The most common is, 'I forgot'.
"He says he has a calendar where he keeps track of it but he just plumb forgot. So the citation is obviously to remind him. He's ordered to appear in court and if he doesn't a warrant could be issued for his arrest," said Detective Dan Adams accompanied by Officer Kelly Swanson.
At the second house, the person in question was not home. Officer Swanson informed a relative the offender needs to register at the police department.
"He's in Georgia," said the man's uncle. 'Did he move to Georgia? asked Officer Swanson. "Yup, probably about a month ago."
"A warrant could be issued for his arrest, not only is he violating his reporting duties, now there could be other possibilities in violation of his reporting duties he could be facing," said Det. Adams.
Three teams of officers set out to make contact with 45 non-compliant sex offenders.
"We're not picking on people, it's not a scarlet letter, it's because of the high rate of recidivism, and the dangers of the predatory behavior that we really do need to keep track of where they are living and make sure we know where they are," said Adams.
Here we have the police who have no idea of what the state's recidivism rate really is and spreads incorrect claims of high recidivism to the media.
..Source.. by Lambrini Lukidis Reviewed By: Nick Monacelli
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