Cell phone warns about sexual predators

**Jason** · 04-06-2006, 02:44 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When 11-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped and murdered last year, Joe Dawson immediately began gathering signatures to enact stricter penalties for registered sex offenders. Now, Dawson is teaming up with a California-based technology firm to introduce the first cell phone that uses the Global Positioning System to alert parents when a child is walking near a sexual predator's home.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...ell_Alert.html

ebackhus · 04-06-2006, 02:53 PM

Now that's a good reason to give your kid a phone.

**40sondacurb** · 04-06-2006, 03:40 PM

They also just showed a correlation between cell phones and brain tumors.

Chevy · 04-06-2006, 11:06 PM

I'm all for tougher sentencing when it comes to any sexual crime, but there's one thing that bothers me:

The rate of recidivism for a sexual offender is lower than just about any other major criminal. Untreated, the rate sits at around 18%. Treated (meds, counseling and therapy), the rate drops to 10%.

I'd like to see tougher penalties for the first time offender, and the repeat offender - but maybe forcing registration after 1 offense is a bit much - provided they attend counseling and stay on any prescribed meds (verified via the parole process). Of course, mandatory registration after a second offense.

I think this is better because it reduces the number of registrants, thus making it easier to track. Also, the system will be tracking those most likely to go back to their old ways. For 80% or more, the system of punish-rehabilitate works.

yustr · 04-07-2006, 08:55 AM

Because it has SEX in the name we treat these crimes much more severely than other crimes. If an adult punches a kid of 15 he gets a couple of years - maybe. If he touches the kids genitals he gets 10 - 20 and must register as a sex offender and be tracked his whole life, have his house on web sites, etc.

Don't get me wrong; both are crimes. But we need to look inward as to what's causing our seemingly inordinant paranoia to SEX.

bry623 · 04-07-2006, 09:41 AM

my next door neighbor fondled his own daughters when they were little and got a slap on the wrist. Then he molested his girlfriend's son and spent 10 years in jail. Now he lives next to me. When they moved in I was going to be nice and take jello over and the like, but now I don't even let my kids on that side of the property. It's called Megan's law because Megan's neighbor asked her if she wanted to see his puppy and since her parents taught her to be friiendly to the neighbors, she went in and was brutally raped and murdered. A child should not be used in this way.

GPD phones sound good to me. I also lke the idea of making sex offenders get pink license plates too. In no way do I think we are being over reactive. Until you have small children of your own living next to a predator, you will not know the anguish of a parent who has has a child violated, nor will you live with worry that it could happen right under your nose.

It's one thing to be forgiving, it's another to be stupid and not protect your children.

yustr · 04-07-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry623

... but now I don't even let my kids on that side of the property. ...

But you would if you found out he had murdered someone, served his time and been released? Somehow I doubt that. So, you need that information too. Are there going to be colored license plates for murders too? Or only sex criminals? Which is exactly my point.

bry623 · 04-07-2006, 10:48 AM

Most murderers do not prey upon little children.

~~whodat~~ · 04-07-2006, 11:18 AM

they ought to take every sex offender, but them on ellis island, then nuke it.

no tolerence..

04-06-2006, 02:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason BANNED Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pasco, FL Posts: 8,497 OS: Windows Vista My System Blog Entries: 2	Cell phone warns about sexual predators ORLANDO, Fla. -- When 11-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped and murdered last year, Joe Dawson immediately began gathering signatures to enact stricter penalties for registered sex offenders. Now, Dawson is teaming up with a California-based technology firm to introduce the first cell phone that uses the Global Positioning System to alert parents when a child is walking near a sexual predator's home. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...ell_Alert.html __________________ Posting Tips \| Advice for New People \| Common Fixes \| Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh Love to ONE, friendship to a FEW, and good will to ALL.

04-06-2006, 02:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,318 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Now that's a good reason to give your kid a phone. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

04-06-2006, 03:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	They also just showed a correlation between cell phones and brain tumors. __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

04-07-2006, 08:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,067 OS: XP Pro My System	Because it has SEX in the name we treat these crimes much more severely than other crimes. If an adult punches a kid of 15 he gets a couple of years - maybe. If he touches the kids genitals he gets 10 - 20 and must register as a sex offender and be tracked his whole life, have his house on web sites, etc. Don't get me wrong; both are crimes. But we need to look inward as to what's causing our seemingly inordinant paranoia to SEX. __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

04-07-2006, 09:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,717 OS: winxp pro sp2	my next door neighbor fondled his own daughters when they were little and got a slap on the wrist. Then he molested his girlfriend's son and spent 10 years in jail. Now he lives next to me. When they moved in I was going to be nice and take jello over and the like, but now I don't even let my kids on that side of the property. It's called Megan's law because Megan's neighbor asked her if she wanted to see his puppy and since her parents taught her to be friiendly to the neighbors, she went in and was brutally raped and murdered. A child should not be used in this way. GPD phones sound good to me. I also lke the idea of making sex offenders get pink license plates too. In no way do I think we are being over reactive. Until you have small children of your own living next to a predator, you will not know the anguish of a parent who has has a child violated, nor will you live with worry that it could happen right under your nose. It's one thing to be forgiving, it's another to be stupid and not protect your children. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

04-06-2006, 11:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	I'm all for tougher sentencing when it comes to any sexual crime, but there's one thing that bothers me: The rate of recidivism for a sexual offender is lower than just about any other major criminal. Untreated, the rate sits at around 18%. Treated (meds, counseling and therapy), the rate drops to 10%. I'd like to see tougher penalties for the first time offender, and the repeat offender - but maybe forcing registration after 1 offense is a bit much - provided they attend counseling and stay on any prescribed meds (verified via the parole process). Of course, mandatory registration after a second offense. I think this is better because it reduces the number of registrants, thus making it easier to track. Also, the system will be tracking those most likely to go back to their old ways. For 80% or more, the system of punish-rehabilitate works.

04-07-2006, 10:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,717 OS: winxp pro sp2	Most murderers do not prey upon little children. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

04-07-2006, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	they ought to take every sex offender, but them on ellis island, then nuke it. no tolerence..