Bush signs bill to monitor child molesters

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

WASHINGTON - President Bush, joined by "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh, signed a new law Thursday that requires convicted child molesters to be listed on a national Internet database and face a felony charge for failing to update their whereabouts.

"Our nation grieves with every family that's suffered the unbearable pain of a child whose been abducted or abused," Bush said in a bill-signing ceremony in the Rose Garden. "This law takes an important step forward in this country's efforts to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

The measure was named for Walsh's 6-year-old son, Adam, who was abducted exactly 25 years ago Thursday, and subsequently murdered.

It aims to help police find more than 100,000 sex offenders by creating the first national online listing available to the public and searchable by ZIP code. It also called for harsh federal punishment for sexually assaulting children, including the possibility of the death penalty when a victim is murdered.

"Today is truly a family day for us," Walsh's wife, Reve, told reporters outside the West Wing following the event. "Adam's presence is felt here with us today. This is all about children. It tells children in our country that they are precious and are cared about — even though they don't have any money, or vote or lobby — that we will take care of them."

Bush said the new law will help prevent child abuse by creating the national child abuse registry, and requiring investigators to do background checks on adoptive and foster parents before they are approved to take custody of a child. Giving child protective services professionals in all 50 states access to this information will improve their ability to investigate their child abuse cases, he said.

"These improvements will help prevent sex offenders from evading detection by moving from one state to the next," Bush said.

Child advocates have called the bill the most sweeping sex offender legislation to target pedophiles in years. It would:

_Establish a comprehensive federal DNA database of material collected from convicted molesters, and procedures for the routine DNA collection and comparison to the database when someone has been convicted of such an offense.

_Provide federal funding for states to track pedophiles using global positioning devices.

_Allow victims of child abuse to sue their molesters.

The law imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for raping a child; a mandatory 10-year penalty for sex trafficking offenses involving children and for coercing child prostitution; and increases minimum sentences for molesters who travel between states.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said the measure the president signed into law closes loopholes in current child Internet pornography laws. The senator and co-sponsor, Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., pushed to include what they dubbed "Masha's Law" into the legislation Bush signed.

Now 13, Masha Allen was adopted from a Russian orphanage at age 5 by a man who sexually abused her. Her abuser was convicted, yet her images on the Internet are being downloaded around the world.

"It's an absolute outrage that the penalty for downloading songs illegally off the Internet was three times the penalty for downloading disgusting images of children," Kerry said. "We need to do everything we can to end the disgrace of child pornography. This is a start."

The new law dramatically increases penalties for anyone who downloads child pornography off the Internet, raising the civil penalties from $50,000 to $150,000. It will also change existing law to allow victims ages 18 or older to recover damages from those who downloaded images of them taken while they were children.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

[Fuzzness 2]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

isn't that something they should have thought about before molesting a child?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

isn't that something they should have thought about before molesting a child?

Yes but the law generally doesn't sentimentalise in that way.

Generally speaking, if you commit a crime, you go to jail, you serve your time, you have a record.

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

There's a certain amount of hysteria around pedophilia.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

[almaty 19]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

is the solution permanent separation from society, either in a prison or clinic?

[Mirorgate 0]

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

so perm cathater is outa the question?? just glue it to the thigh?

[ceriserose 1]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

is the solution permanent separation from society, either in a prison or clinic?

I have a more permanent and violent solution, however I doubt it would really solve the problem.

Would make me feel better though.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

isn't that something they should have thought about before molesting a child?

best defence for a child molester is a well placed shotgun blast with 00 buck

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

is the solution permanent separation from society, either in a prison or clinic?

I have a more permanent and violent solution, however I doubt it would really solve the problem.

Would make me feel better though.

Your solution (if it is what I think it is) would not solve the larger problem of the existence of pedophilia, but so what? It would take one pedophile out of commission forever and that should be good enough.

Assuming, of course, that pedophilia truly is incurable. One day medicine may make it so it no longer is.

[almaty 19]

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

Because they say (I don't know if they are right about this) that the recidivism rate among pedophiles is close to 100%, unlike that of burglars and street robbers. The belief among people who advocate this sort of thing is that pedophiles can never be cured.

My question is, if they really can never be cured, why let them out of jail at all?

The way I see it, if you let someone out of jail, you are saying they have been punished and will no longer be punished... yet, convicted pedophiles are punished even after release. If they're that much of a threat, why are they being released at all? Why not institute mandatory life sentences if they are truly impossible to cure?

total agreement..when i worked for the parole board in kansas..they had a group that did therapy 8 hours a day for a year ...used the "red flag " approach a cognitive behavioral model...research showed that 78% committed an act of sexual aggression within the 1st year of parole...so, they went to antidepressants and added that ..decreases the sex drive still over 70%..worse than drug addiction

is the solution permanent separation from society, either in a prison or clinic?

I have a more permanent and violent solution, however I doubt it would really solve the problem.

Would make me feel better though.

Your solution (if it is what I think it is) would not solve the larger problem of the existence of pedophilia, but so what? It would take one pedophile out of commission forever and that should be good enough.

Assuming, of course, that pedophilia truly is incurable. One day medicine may make it so it no longer is.

there is no solution in america to this issue...most pervs..spend less that 2 years in prison....behavioral mod. techniques are the trend but there is no sure fire answer or solution..it is not a capital crime or a non-parole offense...so they be out sooner than later...

[MandR 0]

THANK YOU... John and Reve Walsh.... I remember that horribile day 25 years ago today that Adam was abducted from the Sears Mall down the street from me. Your constant hard work to help protect the kids is fantastic... way to go

[peejay 327]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

isn't that something they should have thought about before molesting a child?

Yes but the law generally doesn't sentimentalise in that way.

Generally speaking, if you commit a crime, you go to jail, you serve your time, you have a record.

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

There's a certain amount of hysteria around pedophilia.

Hysteria? What if it was you that got molested or a close relative?

I would be more inclined to worry about false convictions and false accuasation "hysteria" than worry about singling out known and verifiable perverts. The truely guilty get zero sympathy from me.

I lose no sleep over the hardship imposed on these creeps. Their victims are traumatized for life. Children are the most vulnerable in our society and deserve the most stringent protection from predators.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does the law provide any protection for people once they have served their time, protecting them from the of indiscriminate violent retaliation that was seen in the UK when a major national newspaper 'experimented' with that sort of thing?

isn't that something they should have thought about before molesting a child?

Yes but the law generally doesn't sentimentalise in that way.

Generally speaking, if you commit a crime, you go to jail, you serve your time, you have a record.

Why is it we single out one particular class of crime (which is in the significant minority of criminal behaviour) as opposed to burglars, street robbers etc?

There's a certain amount of hysteria around pedophilia.

Hysteria? What if it was you that got molested or a close relative?

I would be more inclined to worry about false convictions and false accuasation "hysteria" than worry about singling out known and verifiable perverts. The truely guilty get zero sympathy from me.

I lose no sleep over the hardship imposed on these creeps. Their victims are traumatized for life. Children are the most vulnerable in our society and deserve the most stringent protection from predators.

What if it was you who got robbed, beaten up or had a gun held to your head?

The hysteria comes from the nature of the crime vs. the actual statistical probability of its occurence. Its horrible certainly - but so is every other form of violent crime.

There have been studies that show the fear many women have of walking home alone after dark is massively disproportionate to the chance of them being a victim of being a sexual assault or rape compared to the likelihood of a lone male aged 18-34 YO male being mugged.

People I think make too much of this one crime, that while certainly heinous and worthy of stiffer punishments than the courts often mete out, is far from a national epidemic.

The media has done a pretty good job of creating 'pedo-shock' scares over the last few years - no wonder so many people think that there are perverts on every street corner waiting to pounce on their children as soon as they step out the door.

Edited July 28, 2006 by erekose