Pointing out misleading information in the media, in Oklahoma.

2-23-2010 Oklahoma:

In Oklahoma Sen. Newberry's bill SB-2301, pushes for a new law to force ALL level II-III registered sex offenders to wear GPS units for their entire time on the registry, if the full legislature approves such.

To understand the misconstruction I am pointing out you must first watch this video, Sen Newberry appears at approx 2:35 minutes: CLICK for video.

Did you notice what he said "Sex Offenders are put on the streets on a Honor System." Thats not true, they are released from jails and prisons AFTER they complete their sentences, OR, they are released on probation. There is no honor system, its the law to release them for either of those reasons.

Playing devils advocate, possibly he means, the ones that do not register. Maybe his Honor System is referring to the other law requiring them to register. But again, his bill does not target those who do not register, it targets every single level II-II on the registry.

Therein folks is his misconstruction, he implies those who do not register, but his bill targets every registered level II-II offender. Why? What have they done? Or, what other reason is there, we know of none!

Further proof that he implies "those who do not register" can be found by reviewing what the reporters say and the policeman who appears in the video.

What purpose does it serve to mislead the public?

We strongly suggest, that if you live in Oklahoma, you should be contacting your legislator and asking why this video shows you are being mislead as to the real purpose of Sen. Newberry's bill? And, why is the bill needed at all?

eAdvocate

PS: Other considerations regarding this bill:

A similar GPS bill in Massachusetts -also applied retroactively as Newberry's bill is- was declared unconstitutional because it was considered punitive and violated the ex post facto clauses. See Commonwealth -v- Cory and the news item following it.

Here we have a lawmaker who is not dealing with reality. First, every GPS vendor will tell you that, GPS DOES NOT PREVENT CRIME! Gps merely keeps track of where the wearer goes, and either -real time- or -at the end of the day- tells the state where the wearer has gone.

Secondly he says, 80% are employed, however that doesn't mean they can afford -what amounts to- another rent for the month, most registrants are barely paying their bills. If the state wants it, the state is going to pay its that simple. Face reality, and what about the 20% (his figure) that already we know cannot pay? (6,300 X 20% = $302,400 a month -OR- $3.6 million a year) Where will that come from?

Finally, with the above known what are the benefits of having them wear GPS units, the lawmaker is silent on this point. Folks, its time to face reality, lawmakers are not dealing straight up on many of these sex offender issues, they seem to have some other personal agenda, public safety is a pretext for it. Where have analytical skills gone? Folks need to contact him and ask for some fiscal responsibility here.