September 6, 2013
Shana Rowan: Sex offender laws target wrong people
"While well-intentioned, a focus on previous sex offenses ignores the fact that virtually every perpetrator convicted of a high-profile murder against a child shared something else: a lengthy criminal rap sheet of mostly non-sexual convictions.
No sex offender law — not a mandatory sentence, public registration, or banishment from schools and parks — will prevent sex crimes if they target the wrong people. Treating every offender as a future child rapist and killer is counter-productive.
People who have been offense-free for years, and have families and children of their own, are being forced out of their homes, into fields and under bridges, while those who pose the greatest risk are, as the Sun Sentinel put it, "set free to rape and molest again."
If we as community members cannot find the maturity or courage to have an intelligent conversation about sexual violence, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when your paper runs the same story next year."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-another-viewpoint-offender-laws-20130906,0,6444436.story
September 6, 2013
Other Views: Reform sex-offender registry
"When sex offender registries were created, the World Wide Web was booming. It offered promise as a tool for the public to track criminals who had committed sexual crimes against children. Parents were told how to log on to a state website for registered sexual offenders. There, with the click of a mouse, they could find a map of their community with red arrows indicating where sex offenders lived.
... Extensive research has been conducted on the types of sexual offenders who will repeat their crimes, and the frequency — or more often, infrequency — that it happens.
A study by the state of Michigan showed that an average of just 3.5 percent of registered sex offenders repeat their crimes. The other 96.5 percent do not."
http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/x865772224/Guest-Editorial-Reform-sex-offender-registry
Showing posts with label Shana Rowan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shana Rowan. Show all posts
Friday, 6 September 2013
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Studies and Papers on Residency Laws (USA)
2013
Studies and Articles on Residency Restrictions
"The following links are to research studies and journal articles on the issue of the effectiveness and impacts of sex offender residency laws.
Studies done to date have found that living in close proximity to places where children gather IS NOT A FACTOR IN RECIDIVISM.
As these research articles reveal, residency restrictions often can leave law abiding registrants, and by extension their families, with few, if any, housing opportunities in a community – a steep burden to bear for a policy lacking in any empirical data to justify it.
As with all sex offender sanctions, this policy is rooted in the myth of high recidivism."
http://www.usafair.org/residency_law_studies
Studies and Articles on Residency Restrictions
"The following links are to research studies and journal articles on the issue of the effectiveness and impacts of sex offender residency laws.
Studies done to date have found that living in close proximity to places where children gather IS NOT A FACTOR IN RECIDIVISM.
As these research articles reveal, residency restrictions often can leave law abiding registrants, and by extension their families, with few, if any, housing opportunities in a community – a steep burden to bear for a policy lacking in any empirical data to justify it.
As with all sex offender sanctions, this policy is rooted in the myth of high recidivism."
http://www.usafair.org/residency_law_studies
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Wastes Valuable Resources On 'No'-Risk Offenders
Published: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 19:05 PM
Court right to rule not all sex offenders same
"To the editor:
In the age of information, there is no excuse for ignorance of nearly two decades’ worth of studies on sex-offender policies and profiles. Sadly, the statements made by law enforcement and District Attorney Ernie Lee in an Aug. 20 article headlined, “Law enforcement weighs in on appellate decision” — regarding the repeal of North Carolina’s social media ban for sex offenders — don’t reflect that.
The judges in the case clearly stated that the law was overly broad because the ban applied to everyone convicted of any type of sex offense, without regard to whether or not they posed a risk to re-offend, had used a computer to commit their initial crime or had a child victim.
Why would law enforcement support a law that wastes valuable resources on no-risk offenders while truly dangerous individuals fall through the cracks?
According to a 2008 report by the American Psychological Association, “the publicity about online ‘predators’ who prey on naive children using trickery and violence is largely inaccurate.” The report goes on to say that the majority of victims in cases where social media was involved were willing participants in Internet-initiated sexual activity, but too young to legally give consent. The cases rarely involved violence and 75 percent of victims engaged physically with their offenders more than once.
A tremendous number of arrests for “soliciting minors” stem from law enforcement sting operations who entice potential offenders with non-existent teenagers.
Lastly, social media has become an integral part of connecting with friends and loved ones, keeping up on and discussing the news, and even obtaining employment. We should be encouraging former sex offenders to re-integrate healthily, not create additional obstacles. Lack of stability and access to loved ones have both been shown to increase the risk of re-offense.
Given the conclusive reports of low sex-offender recidivism and high prevalence of crimes committed by first-time offenders, we agree with the court’s ruling. While we can all agree that one re-offense is one too many, and that predatory behavior towards minors must be stopped, it is counter-productive to pour precious resources into defending a law that in reality will do almost nothing to prevent future victimizations.
Shana Rowan, Washington, D.C"
http://www.jdnews.com/opinion/letters/court-right-to-rule-not-all-sex-offenders-same-1.195676
http://congress-courts-legislation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/court-right-to-rule-not-all-sex.html
State v Packingham
http://sexoffender-decisions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/state-v-packingham.html
Court right to rule not all sex offenders same
"To the editor:
In the age of information, there is no excuse for ignorance of nearly two decades’ worth of studies on sex-offender policies and profiles. Sadly, the statements made by law enforcement and District Attorney Ernie Lee in an Aug. 20 article headlined, “Law enforcement weighs in on appellate decision” — regarding the repeal of North Carolina’s social media ban for sex offenders — don’t reflect that.
The judges in the case clearly stated that the law was overly broad because the ban applied to everyone convicted of any type of sex offense, without regard to whether or not they posed a risk to re-offend, had used a computer to commit their initial crime or had a child victim.
Why would law enforcement support a law that wastes valuable resources on no-risk offenders while truly dangerous individuals fall through the cracks?
According to a 2008 report by the American Psychological Association, “the publicity about online ‘predators’ who prey on naive children using trickery and violence is largely inaccurate.” The report goes on to say that the majority of victims in cases where social media was involved were willing participants in Internet-initiated sexual activity, but too young to legally give consent. The cases rarely involved violence and 75 percent of victims engaged physically with their offenders more than once.
A tremendous number of arrests for “soliciting minors” stem from law enforcement sting operations who entice potential offenders with non-existent teenagers.
Lastly, social media has become an integral part of connecting with friends and loved ones, keeping up on and discussing the news, and even obtaining employment. We should be encouraging former sex offenders to re-integrate healthily, not create additional obstacles. Lack of stability and access to loved ones have both been shown to increase the risk of re-offense.
Given the conclusive reports of low sex-offender recidivism and high prevalence of crimes committed by first-time offenders, we agree with the court’s ruling. While we can all agree that one re-offense is one too many, and that predatory behavior towards minors must be stopped, it is counter-productive to pour precious resources into defending a law that in reality will do almost nothing to prevent future victimizations.
Shana Rowan, Washington, D.C"
http://www.jdnews.com/opinion/letters/court-right-to-rule-not-all-sex-offenders-same-1.195676
http://congress-courts-legislation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/court-right-to-rule-not-all-sex.html
State v Packingham
http://sexoffender-decisions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/state-v-packingham.html
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Disproves The Common Beliefs That All Sex Offenders Are Dangerous To Children ...
August 13, 2013 11:07 AM
Family Members of Registered Sex Offenders Organize, Exhibit at National Conference of State Legislatures in Atlanta, GA
"USA FAIR issued the following joint press release:
ATLANTA, GA – For the first time ever, five national advocacy groups fighting for sex offender registry reform have come together to exhibit at the National Conference of State Legislatures at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Booth 114 will be manned by USA FAIR, Inc. (USA Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry), a national nonprofit group representing family members of people on the registry; Florida Action Committee, a state-level advocacy group fighting for evidence-based sex offender laws; and Caution Click National Campaign for Reform (CCNCR), a federal child-pornography awareness campaign.
Booth 315 will be manned by Women Against the Registry, created in 2011 to publicly advocate for the family members of those convicted of a sex offense. Joining W.A.R. is Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL), Sex Offender Solution and Education Network (SOSEN), Illinois Voices for Reason and Texas Voices. Literature pertaining to the 'End Mass Incarceration' National March on Washington D.C. 2014 is also available. All of the groups point to voluminous governmental and independent research, which disproves the common beliefs that all sex offenders are dangerous to children and have high recidivism rates as the basis for their philosophies."
http://www.usafair.org/family_members_of_registered_sex_offenders_organize_exhibit_at_national_conference_of_state_legislatures_in_atlanta_ga
August 15, 2013
Our Voices Heard... On the Road to Reform at NCSL
"Gail Colletta and Shana Rowan at the USA FAIR table at NCSL
USA FAIR's exhibit at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Atlanta, Georgia was well received by state representatives from throughout the country - allowing hundreds of contacts over the three-day event.
Executive Director Shana Rowan was joined by Gail Colletta, President of the Florida Action Committee and Caution Click, in staffing USA FAIR's table. Reform advocates from Women Against the Registry, RSOL, SOSEN, Illinois Voices for Reason and Texas Voices conducted similar outreach at a nearby exhibit - providing double coverage to the largest annual gathering of state legislators."
http://www.usafair.org/our_voices_heard_on_the_road_to_reform_at_ncsl
*****
USA FAIR - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/USAFAIR
Family Members of Registered Sex Offenders Organize, Exhibit at National Conference of State Legislatures in Atlanta, GA
"USA FAIR issued the following joint press release:
ATLANTA, GA – For the first time ever, five national advocacy groups fighting for sex offender registry reform have come together to exhibit at the National Conference of State Legislatures at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Booth 114 will be manned by USA FAIR, Inc. (USA Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry), a national nonprofit group representing family members of people on the registry; Florida Action Committee, a state-level advocacy group fighting for evidence-based sex offender laws; and Caution Click National Campaign for Reform (CCNCR), a federal child-pornography awareness campaign.
Booth 315 will be manned by Women Against the Registry, created in 2011 to publicly advocate for the family members of those convicted of a sex offense. Joining W.A.R. is Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL), Sex Offender Solution and Education Network (SOSEN), Illinois Voices for Reason and Texas Voices. Literature pertaining to the 'End Mass Incarceration' National March on Washington D.C. 2014 is also available. All of the groups point to voluminous governmental and independent research, which disproves the common beliefs that all sex offenders are dangerous to children and have high recidivism rates as the basis for their philosophies."
http://www.usafair.org/family_members_of_registered_sex_offenders_organize_exhibit_at_national_conference_of_state_legislatures_in_atlanta_ga
August 15, 2013
Our Voices Heard... On the Road to Reform at NCSL
"Gail Colletta and Shana Rowan at the USA FAIR table at NCSL
USA FAIR's exhibit at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Atlanta, Georgia was well received by state representatives from throughout the country - allowing hundreds of contacts over the three-day event.
Executive Director Shana Rowan was joined by Gail Colletta, President of the Florida Action Committee and Caution Click, in staffing USA FAIR's table. Reform advocates from Women Against the Registry, RSOL, SOSEN, Illinois Voices for Reason and Texas Voices conducted similar outreach at a nearby exhibit - providing double coverage to the largest annual gathering of state legislators."
http://www.usafair.org/our_voices_heard_on_the_road_to_reform_at_ncsl
*****
USA FAIR - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/USAFAIR
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Well Done, Shana - You Are Winning
Posted: 05.22.2013 at 11:02 AM
Sex offenders - one woman's mission to separate myth from fact
"Shana Rowan first met her fiance when they attended high school in downstate New York. She says they lost touch when he suddenly left school at the age of 16. Years later, Shana says they reconnected.
Shana says they eventually fell in love and she learned the reason why he had disappeared when he was 16. It turns out that he had been convicted of sexually abusing an underage girl and spent four years in prison. She asked that we not reveal his name for fear over his safety.
"It wasn't a violent crime. It wasn't a forcible crime. Was it a crime? Yes, and I believe he should have been punished. I'm glad he can now see the impact he had on his victim, but he's not a monster. He's not a pedophile. He's not dangerous to children," Rowan told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon.
They are now engaged to be married. When they moved to a home in Oneida County however, her fiance, a level 2 registered sex offender, failed to register his new address on time. He was arrested and faced spending three years in prison.
Though he was able to avoid jail time, the experience provided Rowan with a mission in life. Shana Rowan is the Executive Director of USA FAIR, which stands for Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry. "We do advocate for some sex offenders but our focus is actually on family members because what I found when my fiance was looking at jail time, I felt so alone."
Rowan maintains a website that features extensive research that challenges what she says are society's preconceived ideas about sex offenders. She also lobbies legislators nationwide in an attempt to reform laws regarding sex offenders."
http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=900812#.UZ4K7UpaTQM
May 27, 2013 at 7:30 AM, updated May 27, 2013 at 7:31 AM
Hamilton nonprofit advocates reforming Megan's Law
"Shana Rowan, executive director of USA Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry (unrelated to Peifer’s organization), said the sex offender registry has lost its original purpose since the New Jersey Legislature enacted Megan’s Law in 1994.
“The initial idea of a registry was not a bad one, but unfortunately it has expanded exponentially. Now, there are hundreds of crimes that are considered registrable in various states, ” Rowan said. “It’s no longer a safety tool, where people can look and say ‘These people might be dangerous to my kids.’”
“Offenders need to be held accountable, but it gets to a point where, once somebody has served their time and is back out into the community, a lot of these laws are set up to make them fail,” she said.
USA FAIR isn’t against the registry itself. Instead, Rowan advocates for a more “intelligent” database based on “individualized risk assessment,” taking into account the nature of each offender’s crime, personality and risk of recidivism.
“We need to get away from the broad brush approach, treating everybody as if they are the worst of the worst and are going to go out and rape and murder children,” Rowan said. “We have to look at the research between different subtypes of offenders that have very different recidivism rates.”"
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/05/hamilton_nonprofit_advocates_r.html
Sex offenders - one woman's mission to separate myth from fact
"Shana Rowan first met her fiance when they attended high school in downstate New York. She says they lost touch when he suddenly left school at the age of 16. Years later, Shana says they reconnected.
Shana says they eventually fell in love and she learned the reason why he had disappeared when he was 16. It turns out that he had been convicted of sexually abusing an underage girl and spent four years in prison. She asked that we not reveal his name for fear over his safety.
"It wasn't a violent crime. It wasn't a forcible crime. Was it a crime? Yes, and I believe he should have been punished. I'm glad he can now see the impact he had on his victim, but he's not a monster. He's not a pedophile. He's not dangerous to children," Rowan told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon.
They are now engaged to be married. When they moved to a home in Oneida County however, her fiance, a level 2 registered sex offender, failed to register his new address on time. He was arrested and faced spending three years in prison.
Though he was able to avoid jail time, the experience provided Rowan with a mission in life. Shana Rowan is the Executive Director of USA FAIR, which stands for Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry. "We do advocate for some sex offenders but our focus is actually on family members because what I found when my fiance was looking at jail time, I felt so alone."
Rowan maintains a website that features extensive research that challenges what she says are society's preconceived ideas about sex offenders. She also lobbies legislators nationwide in an attempt to reform laws regarding sex offenders."
http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=900812#.UZ4K7UpaTQM
May 27, 2013 at 7:30 AM, updated May 27, 2013 at 7:31 AM
Hamilton nonprofit advocates reforming Megan's Law
"Shana Rowan, executive director of USA Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry (unrelated to Peifer’s organization), said the sex offender registry has lost its original purpose since the New Jersey Legislature enacted Megan’s Law in 1994.
“The initial idea of a registry was not a bad one, but unfortunately it has expanded exponentially. Now, there are hundreds of crimes that are considered registrable in various states, ” Rowan said. “It’s no longer a safety tool, where people can look and say ‘These people might be dangerous to my kids.’”
“Offenders need to be held accountable, but it gets to a point where, once somebody has served their time and is back out into the community, a lot of these laws are set up to make them fail,” she said.
USA FAIR isn’t against the registry itself. Instead, Rowan advocates for a more “intelligent” database based on “individualized risk assessment,” taking into account the nature of each offender’s crime, personality and risk of recidivism.
“We need to get away from the broad brush approach, treating everybody as if they are the worst of the worst and are going to go out and rape and murder children,” Rowan said. “We have to look at the research between different subtypes of offenders that have very different recidivism rates.”"
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/05/hamilton_nonprofit_advocates_r.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)