Florida housing sex offenders under bridge

[Shadylookin]

why 2500 ft? Seems like a useless irrelevant distance now that we have these things called cars. You may as well let them live where they please because someone that really wants to molest children is going to be able to do it from under a bridge just as easily as anywhere else. So you may as well let them live in decent housing so those convicted of minor offenses and have served there time can integrate back into society.

 

[Chairman Meow]

The more I think about this topic, the more it seems that the purpose of these regulations are not to protect children, but to get rid of undesirable people, by making their lives so unbearable that they can only choose between jail or death. If they violate the city regulation by living in a house, they go to jail. As a result they live under a bridge so they don't have to go back to jail. If a hurricane were to hit Miami, do you really think the city would bother finding shelter for these people? Probably not.

So, these people are forbidden from having the essentials to stay alive. The law forbids them from having shelter, because there are no houses available that are not within half a mile from a school. Moreover, these people are unlikely to find a job, because nobody will want to hire them, which means they can't earn a living for themselves. Furthermore, they can't improve their status in life by going to college, because most likely they wouldn't be eligible for student loans (and since they can't find a job they can't pay for it themselves.)

So, these people can't live outside of prison. That leaves them the option of going back to jail (either by running, or by reoffending - somewhat ironic in that this law which is meant to keep sex offenders from reoffending actually makes it desirable to do something that would put them back in jail), or the option of dying, such as by committing suicide. I'm not sure if this is entirely coincidental. The people who propose these laws would probably like to see the death penalty be the punishment for sex offenses, but they're not brave enough to advocate this. However, if a sex offender commits suicide, the state bears no responsibility, even if it created the situation that led to the suicide. It achieves the same result, with less hassle for the government.

This is not to say that people who commit crimes like rape are not horrible people; they are. But, they are still human beings. If they are irredeemable, sentence them to life in prison. But this situation is simply inhumane, and it is disgusting that we would treat even the worst of our citizens in this way.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

why 2500 ft? Seems like a useless irrelevant distance now that we have these things called cars. You may as well let them live where they please because someone that really wants to molest children is going to be able to do it from under a bridge just as easily as anywhere else. So you may as well let them live in decent housing so those convicted of minor offenses and have served there time can integrate back into society.

Not to mention - and this is very important - if the probation system treats them decently, allowing them adequate housing and a means to a living, they are more likely to cooperate with those trying to monitor them. If you push people and tell them, "well, the only place you are allowed to live is under a freeway bridge with constant traffic overhead", they are more likely to say "screw the system", and just take off and go into hiding/underground.

Somewhat related is the issue that the hardships of homelessness (relative or absolute) tends to exasperate pre-existing mental problems.

 

[Xanikk999]

Not to mention - and this is very important - if the probation system treats them decently, allowing them adequate housing and a means to a living, they are more likely to cooperate with those trying to monitor them. If you push people and tell them, "well, the only place you are allowed to live is under a freeway bridge with constant traffic overhead", they are more likely to say "screw the system", and just take off and go into hiding/underground.

Somewhat related is the issue that the hardships of homelessness (relative or absolute) tends to exasperate pre-existing mental problems.

Very good points, the system is it is now doesnt even want them back in society.

So i wonder why even bother letting them out of prison? They arent being helped at all even if they truly want help.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Does someone see a really messed up version of "Three Billygoats" in the future?

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Very good points, the system is it is now doesnt even want them back in society.

So i wonder why even bother letting them out of prison? They arent being helped at all even if they truly want help.

Well, maybe because sentencing is supposed to be proportional to the crime (which of course has no effective means of measure, and thus the sentencing process is questionable). Sentencing does not seem to be fully designed on the relative level of possible rehabilitation.

The system cannot decide if it is meant to be based on correction/rehabilitation or state-sponsored vengeance. With such an irrational disconnect, is it surprising that you run into these kind of problems?