https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:55:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23786 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:06:48 +0000 lavender 23786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just checked and the closest (and only) sex offender is about 2 miles from us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23769 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:53:20 +0000 mommacommaphd 23769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we were in the process of buying a home, I checked the registry for each potential house. If there had been a lot of offenders in the area, I would have NOT purchased our home.</p> <p>While it stinks if a 19 yo gets on the registry for having sex with his 16 yo girlfriend, the registry has info on the crime they were convicted of. So, it is definitely possible to tell the statutory rapists from the child molesters.</p> <p>While healthy vigilance is always good, knowing you have a convicted child predator in your neighborhood is crucial to keep your family safe. As other commenters have mentioned- the recidivism rate for child molesters is VERY high. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23379 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:21:44 +0000 Maysprout 23379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm happy for the lists. It's an often repeated crime and it's a shame to put children in harms way.</p> <p>There's an elementary school directly behind our house. Our neighbor seemed like a really nice, normal guy. He had well adjusted children, took his wife out for date night once a week, always willing to lend a hand, and easy to talk to. I haven't let anyone besides family watch my baby yet but I probably would have felt very comfortable letting them watch her. It makes my stomach turn though because it turned out that he was molesting his 9 year old daughters friends. Since the elementary school is right behind our house she often had friends over after school. He's not our neighbor anymore but when he does get out of prison anyone around him should be notified. Without knowing what he did he's the type of person who I wouldn't have been all that concerned about watching our kid, known him for years, and that makes me want to throw up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23360 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:43:02 +0000 ecogirl 23360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last July in NJ there was a case of two young boys that were in court pleading guilty to an offense and the papers reported in such a way that was untrue. They made stories saying that the boys had bullied two younger boys by holding them down and putting their bare butts on the young boys faces and they were facing Megan's Law registry. People were outraged for these 'poor boys'' futures. Later, it came to light that the actual offense was also forcing their genitals into the young boys mouths and all of this in front of other friends. Suddenly I felt like these boys were predators in the making and I'm glad that they will be on a list somewhere. However, I believe in NJ and maybe NY, first tier offenders (groping, flashing) aren't put on public lists. Only second and third. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23355 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:30:24 +0000 ecogirl 23355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Scary! I use familywatchdog.com because it gives you a map with houses, addresses, violations and photos of everyone registered near you.</p> <p>I read the story but the young girl in it was made to seem like a victim yet it was very clear that she never would have been sent to jail or had to register if she had just followed her sentence in the first place. I don't feel bad about that aspect when it was her not meeting with her parole officer as she was scheduled to and ordered to and not adhering to other requirements that landed her in jail and on the list. Of course giving a bj in a classroom while the lights are switched off for a filmstrip doesn't make her sound like the greatest decision maker either....haha But I do wish they had made the romeo and juliet clause retroactive. They don't deserve such scrutiny. A lot of states are making it more difficult to get onto the list if you are just a dumb kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23351 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:21:44 +0000 Rosie Girl 23351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a registered child sex offender that lives down the road from us. It happened like 12 yrs ago, and in wyoming according to the list. We have met him, and he is a little different, but overall a pretty nice guy. I do keep an eye on my son when he is out playing though. I know that is probably bad, but I don't want to just turn a blind eye to the fact that our neighbor is on the list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23350 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:18:59 +0000 Shutterbug 23350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There used to be one in my neighborhood - the city then expanded the laws about school zones and sex offenders to include parks and daycares, so no others can move into the neighborhood (he was grandfathered in), and then he moved out earlier this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23343 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:48:25 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 23343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure Id want to know and well Canada has decided to make the decision for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23313 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:50:56 +0000 L2sweetpea 23313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thankfully only 4 were listed in my town and none close. I agree with some of the PP regarding these lists, but quite frankly I'd rather have them then not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23311 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:49:47 +0000 eeh 23311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with a sex offender living across the street and it wasn't ever a big deal. What he did was absolutely wrong but he was open about the circumstances and he "paid his debt to society". We got to know him and his family and treated them like any other neighbor. We never went over to his house to play but his daughter was also 12 years younger than us. It wasn't really a big deal. </p> <p>Plus, there are countless studies proving the ineffectiveness of sex offender registries and how they do more harm than good like Mr. Bee said. I'm much more worried about violent criminals and drug dealers living in a neighborhood than I am a convicted sexual offender based on recidivism rates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23260 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:35:59 +0000 Wondermommy 23260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pardon my french, but Jesus, Mary and Joseph, there are 3 within a mile of our home! And 51 more in our zip code. Of those 3 within a mile, 2 were charged with child/minor related crimes. Dammit, man. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23227 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:10:09 +0000 MsMini 23227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also live in Canada, where we don't have access to the national registry. I am actually glad it is that way. I think it knowing could easily drive you crazy, or cause you to be too complacent depending on what you find. I just always operate on the premise that there are bad/crazy people everywhere, and that you should always take basic precautions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23220 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:05:05 +0000 Rescuemom10 23220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are some in our town but none near by. We checked our neighborhood before we purchased our house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23184 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:27:16 +0000 SouthPaw 23184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Apparently where we live there are a lot of registered sex offenders... (not my neighborhood or anything but 256 for our city is ALOT). Eek. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23174 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:17:36 +0000 Crisark 23174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are 41 listed in my zip code but none close at all to my actual home or my children's school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23172 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:13:01 +0000 mediagirl 23172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugmama: @mrbee: Exactly. That is the point that we discussed after the meeting. Those sites can be quite damaging for people who are on them due to false accusations, underage consensual sexual relations, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23168 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:08:05 +0000 DillonLion 23168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It doesn't really change anything for me. I don't walk around my neighborhood alone ever and don't intend on letting my children do it either.</p> <p>Some came up on the search for our town, but it is very low compared to surrounding areas and the general population. No additional worries for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23167 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:07:56 +0000 tequiero21 23167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>apparently, we have 3 in our town. eek. 2 were vague but one was a rapist. ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23164 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:05:59 +0000 mrbee 23164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugmama: I agree! That Economist article that I linked to lists additional troubling cases of people who are obviously not dangers... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23162 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:03:58 +0000 junebugmama 23162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a very hard time with some of these lists. A very close friend of mine was 18 and a senior in high school at the time. He had sex with a sophomore who was 15. When her parents found out, a race issue for them, they had him arrested. He went to prison for 18 months followed by probation for 10 years. He's on this list until his probation is up. The whole thing is insane and obviously he is not a danger, but people think he is. </p> <p>Anyways, I live in a school zone. So no offenders are close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23160 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:01:33 +0000 cyndistar3 23160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea, we have one in our neighborhood but I am not too worried about him, it was a long time ago and nothing serious. I still would never let my child wander around here but for other reasons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23156 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:57:20 +0000 mediagirl 23156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man. We do have someone on that list in our neighborhood. He lives down the street, on a different street (a cul-de-sac). We didn't know about it until we went to our neighborhood watch meeting a few weeks ago. Someone mentioned that we had a sex offender in our neighborhood and then (I'm serious) asked how we could kick them out of the neighborhood. A few other people stood up and asked the same thing!! It felt like the meeting was going to go downhill until our HOA mgr brought it back under control. I don't want to have someone who is on that site in my neighborhood either but, everyone has a right to live where they choose.</p> <p>I'm thankful that even though the dude's picture is a SUPER CREEPY one, his offense was with someone over 18 and it was over 15 years ago with no repeats. We don't know what happened then and we certainly don't know the circumstances behind the crime. We will be as careful as we would have been before knowing and we'll just ask that our kids don't play on that cul-de-sac unless they're at a friends house and they are supervised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23153 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:52:32 +0000 Mrs. D 23153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know! Canada doesn't enable public access to the national registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-an-offender-live-nearby#post-23149 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:47:55 +0000 mrbee 23149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sexual offender registries can be hugely unjust, which troubles me:<br /> <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/14164614" rel="nofollow">http://www.economist.com/node/14164614</a></p> <p>But since they are out there and on the web, I couldn't help but look up my own neighborhood and address:<br /> <a href="http://www.city-data.com/so/sexoffenders.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.city-data.com/so/sexoffenders.html</a></p> <p>I was relieved that there were no sexual offenders too close to our home! Not too far away though, there are plenty of 'em. We don't really plan on letting our LOs out and about alone for a long time though, so I guess it doesn't hugely matter either way.</p> <p>What do you think of these registries? And are there any offenders near your home? </p>