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mcarmel
Citizen
Username: Mcarmel
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 11:07 pm: | 
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The recent incident of the 9-year old Florida child taken from her home and killed by a registered sex offender prompted me to do an Essex County search in the NJ Registered Sex Offender database. Links to the three persons found in our immediate area are indicated below.
https://www6.state.nj.us/LPS_spoff/individualResults.jsp?searchsbi=288739A
https://www6.state.nj.us/LPS_spoff/individualResults.jsp?searchsbi=525841B
https://www6.state.nj.us/LPS_spoff/individualResults.jsp?searchsbi=208328B
According to a news item on TV, only about 100 incidents similar to the Florida child happen each year which is a very small number. But nonetheless, this is frightening. I would hope the neighbors of these persons are alerted to their presence and take appropriate precautions, whatever that might be I have no idea.
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spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 675
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 12:16 pm: |
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These links all lead back to the main page for the Registry.
Once on the page, you need to read the rules about misuse of the information, etc, click "I accept" , and then search by:
The Geographic search will afford you the ability to search by county, zip code, locality or street name. You may also search records published after the date of your choice.
The individual search will return specific individuals by name and date of birth.
The advanced search will return individuals within a county or locality by name and or physical characteristics.
The vehicle search will return vehicles that match the search criteria.
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Taylor M
Citizen
Username: Anotherusername
Post Number: 396
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 4:37 pm: |
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The last time I check the registry there was ONE sex offender living in South Orange. (one that registered that is) |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 676
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 5:33 pm: |
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Taylor - I checked as well (today) . 1 living in SO (2 aliases, so it comes up as 2 entries); and 2 in MW (again multiple aliases so the 10 or so entries are only for 2 separate individuals) . |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1006
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 5:37 pm: |
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While the registration of sexual predators may help parents sleep better at night, sometimes the reasons that a person has to register really don't pose a threat to the community - i.e. an 18-year-old boy found guilty of statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl when it was consentual.
That said, there are plenty of people who have to register who do pose threats to the community.
Whenever these cases happen, and they are so rare they make national headlines, I think the hyped-up coverage scares parents into imagining a frightening world of playgrounds and paths to school lined with pedophiles that simply isn't reality.
100 cases a year is 100 too many. On the other hand, most (milllions) of children in the US will never be kidnapped or hurt by a stranger.
Many thousands of children will be raped or beaten and sometimes killed by family members. The pedophiles and opportunists to watch out for are the people that our children trust.
It's pretty easy to tell kids not to talk to strangers, but it's harder to tell them not to obey an adult they like if the adult is asking them to do something that scares them.
The other dangers (sloppy car seats, wobbly basement stairs, Micheal Jackson) are with us every day and we parents have a lot of control to protect and guide our children through these everyday landmines.
Children today in the USA are safer than they have been anywhere in history.
Taking regular precautions and teaching our children what to do when we're not there is a huge ingredient in keeping them safe.
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argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 550
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 5:41 pm: |
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That is still the case.
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mcarmel
Citizen
Username: Mcarmel
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 10:25 pm: |
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True, the probability of a kidnapping is low, but the consequence of the kidnapping is very grave. Plane travel is very safe even considering terrorist threats. But if that plane crashes, everyone on board is dead. It is the fear, perhaps irrational, of that grave consequence that causes my nightmares.
BTW, I had first hand information that an attempted abduction of a child took place on Jefferson Avenue (right around the corner from me) several years ago. A friend lives on that street and he told me the police came to his door asking if anyone had seen a particular car or other suspicious activity. Luckily, the child was smart enough not to get into the vehicle and she ran away.
I try and "proof" my kids by periodically asking them "what would you do" scenarios such if an adult asks them to help find a puppy. And frankly, I'll never let my kids walk to and from school or town unescorted, I don't care how old they are. |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1007
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:45 am: |
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We live in the Jefferson area - my daughter was walking home from the bus one day with a friend in the drizzle and a friend of mine drove by and offered them a lift which they declined.
The next day the child's mother called me and asked about the possible child abduction - I explained what had happened and she relaxed - a little.
While abductions do happen, they are so rare as to fall into the catagory of getting struck by lightening.
I think what's so scary about the spector of a kidnapper is the randomness and the intent. It's the boogeyman in real life, and that's still terrifying.
In real life, the number one threat to children is auto accidents. I don't know anyone or even have a friend of a friend who has been kidnapped but I did have a friend growing up who was hit by a car and killed.
I knew a little boy who fell down the basement stairs and never came out of the coma.
I've known many, many kids who live in safe protected homes who have been rushed to the emergency room after household accidents.
I don't mean to trivialize the danger of stranger abductions, but put into perspective, we can protect our children from almost all the real dangers.
Part of growing up is letting our children leave the nest and walk around a bit without a grown-up.
While I respect your choice to escort your children to school and town, I think that giving children age-approriate freedom empowers them and helps them navigate our big nuanced world in manageable pieces. |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 182
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 10:28 am: |
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Thanks Lydia for putting things in perspective. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5929
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 11:27 am: |
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Lydia, you say what I often say, so thanks.
Also, the "cost of fear" is substantial. If kids don't go out and have fun, that's a big loss. |
Lotts of guns
Citizen
Username: Lotts_of_guns
Post Number: 12
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 3:22 pm: |
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we can protect our children from almost all of the real dangers, unless of course they happen to be from guns, right TomR, in which case we should do nothing apparently. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5941
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 3:26 pm: |
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We can argue about guns in a thread about guns, but not here.
And please stop putting words in my mouth. You are asking me to confirm a viewpoint I do not hold. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 116
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 3:36 pm: |
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BTW, all three of the assaults noted in the registry by MW/SO residents took place between 1985 and 1989. Should that make me feel better (since it does)?!?
Also, working in the field of "child guidance", I've many times found myself heeding the advice of a well-known local authority re child (sexual) abuse, and that is:
Teach your children, from a young age, to begin to listen to and trust their instincts, rather than merely referring to all the potential sources of "danger" (both re people/situations) in the outside world, per se. So, whenever the kids notice themselves feeling "uncomfortable" with a certain someone or in a situation that doesn't "seem quite right", have them understand the importance/learn the drill of coming directly to you or to another responsible adult to report that. I recall the amusing anecdotal report by that same child abuse expert that followed this guideline, as she described having to "shape" her own daughter's responses over time. Apparently, her little girl felt "uncomfortable" in lots of situations (including when she was refused a desired dessert or toy by her own parents!) and she was reporting, reporting, reporting away!!! After a few more dialogues, her daughter came to appreciate the more vs. less appropriate choices for reporting, but knew that she could/should always err on the side of making that same sort of initial (overreporting) mistake.
Ah, life... |
argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 573
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 11:49 am: |
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michelezembow,
I don't think it should make you feel better or worse as to the timing of those assaults. It is what it is. Unfortunately this isn't a crime like stealing headlights where a strong police presence, say, may act as a deterrent, and therefore you could say that the crime is "down" due to preventative measures in the community.
If the occurance of these assaults is down and you can actually point to a program that is driving them down, that could potentially make you feel better. But just to say it hasn't happened in a while, therefore it is less likely to happen now, doesn't make for a strong reassurance.
Also remember this database indicates where convicted sex offenders live now... not necessarily where the crimes took place.
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michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 117
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 1:59 pm: |
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a_s,
Guess I wasn't really very clear as I wondered aloud re my wish to feel better/safer (essentially for our kids), in that initial statement of mine. The dates/timing of the previous incidents by the offenders in our community merely suggested to me that none of those three men had been "active" (or at least, hadn't been caught/convicted of engaging in any subsequent sex crime) in more than 15 years. I was hoping that I could take at least some reassurance from the fact that the three known offenders living locally had presumably not committed subsequent acts in quite a long time... That's really all I was saying re reassurance in the "...it hasn't happened for a while" part.
For myself, "reassurance" otherwise comes with much consciousness raising (and better education/awareness in the community) re the personal skills needed to handle onesself as adeptly and wisely as possible in interpersonal situations, starting at a young age. But I already put in my two cents on that one. |
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