OK folks, everyone is so wrapped up in the theory that, once a sex offender the person is no good, that here, the powers that be, failed to do their jobs and the registrant suffered.7-11-2010 Florida:
Lets take a closer look, likely after the uninformed tipster tipped the police, the man was arrested, charged, and a case prepared by the prosecutor. Then a defense attorney was hired, and they all go to court, attorney, prosecutor, judge, and a jury (how many people is that?). 30 minutes to decide that, law enforcement failed to even look on the registry to see that the guy (defendant) had properly registered his new address.
OK, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! And it cost the state a pile of money! OH, its Florida...
Bay County man Benjamin Judson, 44, of Panama City was acquitted Thursday on charges of failing to register as a sex offender.
According to a press release from the Public Defender’s Office of the 14th Judicial Circuit, Judson was found not guilty by a Bay County jury after approximately 30 minutes of deliberation.
Assistant Public Defender Laura McCarthy represented Judson, and stated that the charge against him was based on a tip received from another sex offender.
The claim made was that Judson had moved. However, according to the release, law enforcement failed to verify that the defendant had actually changed his residence.
Instead, the release states, law enforcement relied on the misinformed tip from the other sex offender.
At trial, the tipster refused to testify, the release states. ..Source.. JCFloridan Staff
5 comments:
"...everyone is so wrapped up in the theory that, once a sex offender the person is no good..."
Just a second. I've done social work for 26 years, most of those years with involuntary client populations. I'm entitled to be jaded about people. My job is treating guys convicted of sex offenses in a prison based program. 99 percent of these guys are better people than you'll encounter next Sunday at church. I'd much rather one of these guys move in next door to me than someone I don't know.
Have these guys messed up? Sure, big time. Hasn't everyone else? I have.
Archivist, your opinion, like mine, is not shared by the general public. In fact, in the article, it is my guess that is exactly why a shody investigation took place, it only affected a sex offender. This feeling is found throughout the nation excepting a relative few such as Archivist and here on this site and those who we know are advocating for their rights.
I agree with Voice that most people, including Law Enforcement, do not share Archivist's view. Once a person has the "sex offender" label, they are considered guilty and carry the burden of proof for absolutely anything they are accused of. I am not exaggerating.
Their social workers, therapists, and even their Registry workers usually know better. But sadly, the justice system and legal system do not. Thanks, archivist, for your vote of confidence for these folks.
The point missed in the artical is that it took more than 30 minutes of time paid for by the public, to learn that this man was not guilty. Both sides had to present the case, the jury had to be instructed and so on and so on. Including the time the proscutor wrote up the complaint against the accused.
If everyone would give me a minute and listen to what I have to say:
"This would have NEVER happened if the ACLU of Florida would get behind Sex Offenders and fight for their rights."
This is was happens when no one defends the rights of people. The ACLU has a responsibility in EVERY state to help. Especially when they know what the Politician's have done to our group.
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