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Forum: In the News
Thread (Discussion): [TheHawaiiChannel.com] Legislators to put more sex offenders on Web site
Message 150632
Introduction
Posted by admin
on Apr 27, 2005 06:21 PM | Also by admin
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Discuss the article Legislators to put more sex offenders on Web site, which appeared on TheHawaiiChannel.com on April 27, 2005.
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Message 150774 (In Reply to Message 150632)
Posted by orolan
on Apr 30, 2005 12:13 AM | Also by orolan
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Right now, Hawaii's sex offender registry has only 74 names on it.
Keep in mind that Hawaii only has around 1500 registered sex offenders. That's still a low 5% presence. But for every offender on the Net because they are 'dangerous', judges decided 6 were not dangerous. This is what caused the whole problem and brought on the Constitutional amendments that allowed this to come to what it is today.
Under the compromise, all sex offenders will be given the chance to petition to get their name off the list after specified periods of time.
DP1 they forgot to ask you about this.
As registry bills go this one has some good points. First and foremost is the verification requirement. While the offender is required to return the verification form, failure to do so is NOT a crime if the offender can prove that the address has not changed. So if for whatever reason the offender did not get the letter, was out of town at the time etc, they are not charged if the address is still correct. Common-sense legislation that other states should follow (unfortunately the aim of most other states is to find any excuse to get the offender in prison, so they won't do it).
The bill also requires that the registering LEA must give the offender a copy of the registration form he just signed. Again, many states don't do this and once he walks out the door the offender has NO proof he complied with the registration. Again, such is in the best interests of a state that wants the offender locked up.
Offenders can peition for release after 10, 20, 30 or 40 years depending on original offense and number thereof. Most of Hawaii's offenders will fall under the 10-year cap. and in a twist the bill has been amended t osay that propensity to reoffend or not reoffend has to be proved by 'clear and convincing evidence' rather than 'preponderance of the evidence'. This is a clear victory for offenders who remain offense-free(which 84% of them do in Hawaii). Many people believe that this will make it easier for the state to oppose the removal. Not so. No longer will the prosecutor be able to simply say 'he did it once' and that be sufficient grounds.
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150632, admin, Apr 27, 2005 06:21 PM [Introduction]
150774, orolan, Apr 30, 2005 12:13 AM
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