How to fix laws about sex offender registries | Letters - Tampa Bay Times
Facts, not emotion
This excellent column is based on research that many in political positions choose to ignore and continue to pass laws based on myths. The column referred to the recent meta-analysis of 25 years of findings that included 474,640 formerly incarcerated individuals for sex crimes. The study looked at the effectiveness of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act on sexual recidivism. Some of the conclusions: These policies demonstrate no effect on recidivism; they may prove to be more harmful than helpful; resources need to be allocated to focusing only on the high-risk individuals; and it is time to make empirically informed decisions, not ones based on emotions. This past June, the American Law Institute, a prestigious non-governmental law reform group of federal judges, law professors and other legal experts, recommended major changes to the registry based on research. The report says that “there is clear evidence … that these laws are seriously counterproductive.” Empirically validated risk assessments need to be used in Florida to remove the thousands of registrants who are of no threat to society, freeing up resources to focus only on high-risk individuals and prevention of sex crimes. Florida needs to become more proactive rather than reactive, with all decisions being based on research, not emotions.
Sarah Fiebig, Gainesville
My classroom
Once again our governor is proposing a remedy for a manufactured problem at the same time he is limiting free speech and attempting to legislate the behavior of citizens. I was a teacher for 32 years, including 30 years in Pinellas County, and the curriculum was not monitored and controlled. The governor needs to spend his time addressing and fixing the myriad of problems that Florida citizens face every day. People are homeless, hungry, unemployed and need child and medical care.
Shelley Foster, Clearwater
Repeat pollution
I am very concerned with the Piney Point solution to pump their wastewater into a well they have drilled into our Earth. It appears to me their solution to this troubled former phosphate plant is, first, to pollute our beautiful Earth from the surface and, second, to pollute it from the inside out.
Michael Kucan, Clearwater
source: https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/letters/2021/12/20/how-to-fix-laws-about-sex-offender-registries-letters/
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