Demand Change In Vermont Law

[SeriouslySearching]

Please post all of your ideas, letters, campaigns, and other thoughts about changing the laws in Vermont here. This is the place to discuss it!

[SeriouslySearching]

The Vermont Legislature Legislative Directory

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/alpha.cfm?Body=S

Includes mailing addresses, email addresses, fax numbers, and phone numbers

Good post! Thanks!

[Beyond Belief]

Feel free to change the text and repost.

Dear Vermont Senator:

Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender Michael Jacques. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her Uncle for sex. Michael Jacques was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?

The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison[2] and lifetime electronic monitoring[3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Taken from Wikipedia.

Please tell me your stance now on this law after this brutal killing of a 12 year old girl in your state by a previous sex offender and kidnapper. Can you tell me whose decision it was to let Michael Jacques out of prison after only serving 3 years for rape and kidnapping?

The country is looking at you to pass this law in your state now.

Hoping to hear from you.


Send to:

The Vermont Legislature
Legislative Directory E-Mail Addresses for Senators
2007-2008 Legislative Session


cayer@leg.state.vt.us; sbartlett@leg.state.vt.us; jcampbell@leg.state.vt.us; vt13@aol.com; bcarris@leg.state.vt.us; bill.carris@carris.net; bill.carris@carris.net; dcollins@leg.state.vt.us; jcondos@leg.state.vt.us; gcoppenrath@leg.state.vt.us; george.coppenrath@gmail.com; acummings@leg.state.vt.us; wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us; EFlanagan@leg.state.vt.us; hgiard@leg.state.vt.us; rhartwell@leg.state.vt.us; hartlaw@sover.net; villuzzi@leg.state.vt.us; janek45@hotmail.com; skittell@leg.state.vt.us; vlyons@leg.state.vt.us; vvlyons@cs.com; mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us; senatormark@aol.com; Hull@sover.net; rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us; dick@mccormack4vt.com; hmiller@leg.state.vt.us; hinda@deforestconcepts.com; kjmbjm@aol.com; anitka@leg.state.vt.us; alicenitka@comcast.net; dracine@leg.state.vt.us; pscott14@aol.com; rsears@leg.state.vt.us; senprespt@leg.state.vt.us; dsnelling@leg.state.vt.us; jwhite@leg.state.vt.us

[SeriouslySearching]

Originally from Jaded cayer@leg.state.vt.us; sbartlett@leg.state.vt.us; jcampbell@leg.state.vt.us; vt13@aol.com; bcarris@leg.state.vt.us; bill.carris@carris.net; bill.carris@carris.net; dcollins@leg.state.vt.us; jcondos@leg.state.vt.us; gcoppenrath@leg.state.vt.us; george.coppenrath@gmail.com; acummings@leg.state.vt.us; wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us; EFlanagan@leg.state.vt.us; hgiard@leg.state.vt.us; rhartwell@leg.state.vt.us; hartlaw@sover.net; villuzzi@leg.state.vt.us; janek45@hotmail.com; skittell@leg.state.vt.us; vlyons@leg.state.vt.us; vvlyons@cs.com; mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us; senatormark@aol.com; Hull@sover.net; rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us; dick@mccormack4vt.com; hmiller@leg.state.vt.us; hinda@deforestconcepts.com; kjmbjm@aol.com; anitka@leg.state.vt.us; alicenitka@comcast.net; dracine@leg.state.vt.us; pscott14@aol.com; rsears@leg.state.vt.us; senprespt@leg.state.vt.us; dsnelling@leg.state.vt.us; jwhite@leg.state.vt.us

Copy and paste into email minus all the names. I figured it would be easier. [QUOTE]

[christine2448]

Speaking of...Please visit Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing. http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com...sing-2006.html (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2005/12/121305-campaign-for-missing-2006.html)

You can make a difference in your state!

Email me or Kelly to inquire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beyond Belief]

I just sent the first batch. I did leave out Jacques until the end. Guilty til proven innocent thing. Anyhow it went out fine, I see how many bounce back.

Subject line I used:
Vermont: Your hug a thug rehab program isn't working.

Dear Vermont Senator:


Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her uncle for sex. This sexual offender was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?


The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison[2] and lifetime electronic monitoring[3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Taken from Wikipedia.


Please tell me your stance now on this law after this brutal killing of a 12 year old girl in your state by a previous sex offender and kidnapper. Can you tell me whose decision it was to let the alledged killer,Michael Jacques out of prison after only serving 3 years for rape and kidnapping?


The country is looking at you to pass this law in your state now.


Hoping to hear from you.

[Beyond Belief]

Thank you for your email. Due to the large number of emails received it may take a little time to respond. I will try to reply as soon as possible
Diane Snelling, Vermont legislature

[christine2448]

I just sent the first batch. I did leave out Jacques until the end. Guilty til proven innocent thing. Anyhow it went out fine, I see how many bounce back.

Subject line I used:
Vermont: Your hug a thug rehab program isn't working.

Dear Vermont Senator:


Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her uncle for sex. This sexual offender was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?


The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison[2] and lifetime electronic monitoring[3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Taken from Wikipedia.


Please tell me your stance now on this law after this brutal killing of a 12 year old girl in your state by a previous sex offender and kidnapper. Can you tell me whose decision it was to let the alledged killer,Michael Jacques out of prison after only serving 3 years for rape and kidnapping?


The country is looking at you to pass this law in your state now.


Hoping to hear from you.


:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

[Beyond Belief]

Hello,
In Vermont, this is a time of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for the victims and solidarity as a community. For any politician to use this moment as an opportunity to comment on any agenda, including a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful. Please get back in touch at a more appropriate time.
Senator Dick McCormack

[bakerprune64]

Hello,
In Vermont, this is a time of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for the victims and solidarity as a community. For any politician to use this moment as an opportunity to comment on any agenda, including a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful. Please get back in touch at a more appropriate time.
Senator Dick McCormack

Out of respect of the family, we as a nation should be demanding immediate action!

[bakerprune64]

I just sent the first batch. I did leave out Jacques until the end. Guilty til proven innocent thing. Anyhow it went out fine, I see how many bounce back.

Subject line I used:
Vermont: Your hug a thug rehab program isn't working.

Dear Vermont Senator:


Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her uncle for sex. This sexual offender was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?


The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison[2] and lifetime electronic monitoring[3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Taken from Wikipedia.


Please tell me your stance now on this law after this brutal killing of a 12 year old girl in your state by a previous sex offender and kidnapper. Can you tell me whose decision it was to let the alledged killer,Michael Jacques out of prison after only serving 3 years for rape and kidnapping?


The country is looking at you to pass this law in your state now.


Hoping to hear from you.

Did you sign your name? I am guessing so. Drafting my letter now:blowkiss:

[Jen_in_Indy]

Hello,
In Vermont, this is a time of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for the victims and solidarity as a community. For any politician to use this moment as an opportunity to comment on any agenda, including a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful. Please get back in touch at a more appropriate time.
Senator Dick McCormack

I find that incredibly insulting.

Yes. Please try and get back in touch before the next child is killed by a sex offender.

Now is the time for this politician to stand up and represent the people who elected him and defend them.

[Jaded]

Response from Senator Dick McCormack


Hello ********:
Please re-send your email to me in about two weeks. Given that the defendant was under state supervision when he allegedly committed his crimes, a reconsideration of Vermont's child protection policy is surely in order. But this is not the moment. This is a moment of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for this poor little girl and her heart broken parents, and mutual comfort within our community. For me or any politician to use this tragedy at this time to advance any agenda, even a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful.

After a decent interval, I look forward to a serious discussion.
Senator Dick McCormack

[FourWands]

Just out of curiosity, how many of you writing are Vermonters?

[bakerprune64]

Dear Vermont Senator:


How many more Sex offenders will walk the streets, stalk the internet and prey on our youth before tougher laws and sentencing are enacted? How is it that a convicted rapist and kidnapper goes free after only serving 3 years for his disgustingly awful crime?


Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her uncle for sex. This sexual offender was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?


The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison [2] and lifetime electronic monitoring [3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole.



Your State needs action, our Nation needs action, and the children of our future need you to take action. We owe it to this family and the many more around the country to enact stricter and permanent penalties for these monsters. One more child does not have to die!

Hoping to hear you thoughts and stance on this very important issue,

[Beyond Belief]

I signed my name, and Fl resident.

[bakerprune64]

Just out of curiosity, how many of you writing are Vermonters?

California , but the issue should be and needs to be addressed across our nation. We have how many websleuthers? Could you imagine the campaign we could launch if each sleuther and two of their family members sent similar letters to their Senators? Power in the people ya'll. Let's do this!

[bakerprune64]

I signed my name, and Fl resident.

Bulk e-mail or did you go individually?

[Beyond Belief]

Bulk email

[bakerprune64]

Anxiously awaiting responses.

[bakerprune64]

Thank you for your email. Due to the large number of emails received it may take a little time to respond. I will try to reply as soon as possible
Diane Snelling, Vermont legislature

I got the same response form her, must be automated.

[Jaded]

California , but the issue should be and needs to be addressed across our nation. We have how many websleuthers? Could you imagine the campaign we could launch if each sleuther and two of their family members sent similar letters to their Senators? Power in the people ya'll. Let's do this!


I agree - and don't think that the people don't have a voice. I know a certain television reporter who was removed from a speaking engagement for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as a result of a petition and email campaign after he opened his raunchy mouth about Shawn Hornbeck.

[FourWands]

National laws being changed is one thing... changing laws in a state you don't live in is another. I agree a national law on this might be the way to go but I don't see how our State Legislators are going to be swayed by letters from those other than their constituents.

[bakerprune64]

National laws being changed is one thing... changing laws in a state you don't live in is another. I agree a national law on this might be the way to go but I don't see how our State Legislators are going to be swayed by letters from those other than their constituents.

And how would they know that I was anything but one of their constiuents? I didn't put what state I am from. But I mean really if the people of Vermont are already taking action in this regard, then what could a little help from the "outsiders" hurt? I for one am willing to take the chance that my voice may be heard.

[Beyond Belief]

Reading the history of Jessica's Law might help understand changing state laws.

Thirty Three states have passed or updated their laws after being hounded by folks like us, Mark Lunsford, Fox media such as Bill O'Reilly, and a whole host of politicians.

[KR2tonenow]

California , but the issue should be and needs to be addressed across our nation. We have how many websleuthers? Could you imagine the campaign we could launch if each sleuther and two of their family members sent similar letters to their Senators? Power in the people ya'll. Let's do this!

I think a Nationwide Bill would be applicable. Like the Amber alert, laws and convictions, the same!!!

[VTGirl81]

I think a Nationwide Bill would be applicable. Like the Amber alert, laws and convictions, the same!!!

OK, then do we aim higher than the Vermont legislators? Should we send this to people in Congress?

[bakerprune64]

OK, then do we aim higher than the Vermont legislators? Should we send this to people in Congress?

I'm in if if can help

[KR2tonenow]

Absolutely!!

I believe Mark Lunsford has been quoted as saying the same.

The exploitation and sex abuse of minors has got to stop!!

These sex offenders are getting off far too easy nationwide.

The laws are far to lenient nationwide. We need to use the example of Florida, thanks to Mark Lunsford, and aim much higher.

With stricter laws minors will not be allowed to be on Myspace. There should be a seperate website that is child friendly for children to use. Proof of over 18 must be allowed only. This is ridiculous, that the Myspace account owners are getting rich off of children exploiting themselves sexually and allowing parents to use these websites to manipulate these poor innocent victims.

Enough is enough!!

[Beyond Belief]

A federal law is tough because of States Rights. of course we had things like the 55mph driving thing that was passed once. voting age, etc.

[Beyond Belief]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States%27_rights

[VTGirl81]

With stricter laws minors will not be allowed to be on Myspace. There should be a seperate website that is child friendly for children to use. Proof of over 18 must be allowed only. This is ridiculous, that the Myspace account owners are getting rich off of children exploiting themselves sexually and allowing parents to use these websites to manipulate these poor innocent victims.

Enough is enough!!

ITA about this. MySpace should require a credit card authorization or something to prove you are 18 or older and to prove that you are who you say you are, to avoid people creating fake identities to lure others.

[KR2tonenow]

I really would like to see Federal make some changes with the laws on the internet.

The fact that porno is so accessible makes me angry!!

I think a letter to Congress is defintely in order.

[Ladybass0711]

Hello:
Please re-send your email to me in about two weeks. Given that the defendant was under state supervision when he allegedly committed his crimes, a reconsideration of Vermont's child protection policy is surely in order. But this is not the moment. This is a moment of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for this poor little girl and her heart broken parents, and mutual comfort within our community. For me or any politician to use this tragedy at this time to advance any agenda, even a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful.

After a decent interval, I look forward to a serious discussion.
Senator Dick McCormack

[Ladybass0711]

Senator Dick Sears
State Senator, Bennington District
rsears@leg.state.vt.us (rsears@leg.state.vt.us)

July 3, 2008

Dear XXXXXX;

In response to your recent e-mail regarding the tragic death of Brooke
Bennett and how Vermont deals with sex offenders. First a few facts;

I lead Vermont’s effort to abolish time off sentences of
incarceration for good behavior with the passage of Act 63 in 2005.

Despite what you may have heard or read I do not oppose mandatory
minimums fox child sex offenders, as a mater of fact in 2005 I proposed
a 10 year mandatory minimum fox child sex offenders. By 2006 I was able
to move a bill through the Senate and a committee of conference, despite
tremendous opposition from many quarters that establishes life time
maximum sentences for most sex offenders and provides for a mandatory
jail term of 5 years and a presumptive period of incarceration of 10
years.

In my view the real danger in focusing on quick fix solutions is that
they provide a false sense of security. We can not ignore the fact that
nationally and in Vermont well over 90 percent of the crimes of child
sexual abuse are committed not by a stranger, but by someone the child
knows and trusts.

I have attached a summary of several bills that have been enacted since
2004; it is my understanding that, unfortunately, the alleged
perpetrator of this crime was originally sentenced before these laws
were enacted. I along with others remain committed to continuing to
review Vermont’s response to sex offenders and to recommend and make
needed changes.

Sincerely;

Dick
Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee


2004 -2007 Legislative Acts Regarding Sex Offenses





H.148. AN ACT RELATING TO THE CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY AND


INCREASED SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY REQUIREMENTS (2007)




Established heightened sex offender registry requirements for persons designated noncompliant high-risk sex offenders by the department of corrections. These offenders are automatically subject to lifetime sex offender registration and community notification, must report to the department of public safety within 15 days after their release and every 30 days after that, and must inform the department of any changes in name, residence, post-secondary education status, or employment. They must also provide the department with identifying information about their vehicles, and are prohibited from operating any other vehicles at any time. An offender violates any of these heightened registry requirements is subject to a prison sentence of not less than five years and a mandatory maximum of life. The sentence may not be suspended, and the offender cannot be eligible for parole or other early release, unless the offender is placed under intensive supervision by the department of corrections.





NO. 192. AN ACT RELATING TO ENHANCING SENTENCES FOR AND PREVENTING RISKS POSED BY DANGEROUS SEXUAL OFFENDERS. (ALSO KNOWN AS THE


“SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT.” (2006)




Established a sentencing system, called "indeterminate lifetime sentencing," which mandates lifetime maximum sentences for most sex offenders. For most offenses, minimum sentences are not mandated and will therefore vary according to the circumstances associated with the crime. This means that, after the offender's release, he or she will continue to be under the supervision of the department of corrections for life and will be subject to the underlying lifetime maximum term of incarceration if he or she re-offends or violates the terms of probation. Additionally, the offender must complete sex offender treatment and programming in order to be eligible for release.


For lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, established a presumptive minimum sentence of five years of incarceration for a second offense and ten years of incarceration for a third or subsequent offense.


For aggravated sexual assault, established a presumptive minimum sentence of ten years of incarceration and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of incarceration.


Permitted arrest without a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender registry requirements, and increased the penalty for knowingly failing to comply for more than five consecutive days to a five-year felony.


Required high risk offenders to report to the department of corrections within 36 hours of any change of address instead of the standard 72 hours for other sex offenders.


Added all recidivist sex offenders to the internet sex offender registry, as well as offenders who commit lewd and lascivious conduct with a child if the offender is determined by the department of corrections to be high risk.


Increased public access to sex offender registry information.


Required the department of corrections to conduct pre-sentence investigations, which may include psychosexual evaluations, for all sex offenders, and to develop a release plan and a community reentry support team for all high risk sex offenders.


Required the department of corrections, prior to the release of a sex offender, to give careful consideration to the proximity of the offender's residence to any risk group associated with the offender.


Created an “age gap," exception to some sexual offenses when both parties have consented to the sexual conduct and one of the parties is a minor. Under the age gap exception, no crime is committed if a person is charged with lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, luring a child, or statutory rape, and the person is less than 19 years old, the child is at least 15 years old, and the conduct is consensual.


Directed the antiviolence partnership at the University of Vermont to convene an education task force on sexual violence prevention.


Expanded special investigative units, which specialize in investigating sex crimes, to all regions of Vermont.





NO. 193. AN ACT RELATING TO ORDERS AGAINST STALKING OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, NO CONTACT ORDERS, AND ESTABLISHING A VICTIMS' RIGHTS STUDY COMMITTEE. (2006)





Created a process for obtaining an order against stalking or sexual assault that is closely modeled on the procedures for obtaining a relief from domestic abuse order. A person who was the victim of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault may obtain an order from the court directing the defendant to stay away from the plaintiff and his or her children. A violation of the order is a crime, and upon conviction, the court may order the defendant to participate in mental health counseling or sex offender treatment approved by the department of corrections.






NO. 79. AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND


EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS. (2005)





Increased penalties for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. Maximum life in prison for recidivists.


Prohibited a person who is convicted of aggravated sexual assault from being eligible for early release or furlough until the expiration of the minimum sentence imposed. Crime is punishable by up to life in prison.


Streamlined process for designating an offender as a sexually violent predator, requiring, prior to sentencing, a presentence investigations and a psychosexual evaluation on person suspected of being a predator.


Appropriated $50,000.00 in FY 06 to the department of corrections for the purpose of funding psychosexual evaluations as a part of presentence investigations conducted by the department in cases involving a petition to have a person designated as a sexually violent predator or in sentencing for the crimes of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, aggravated sexual assault, and second offense use of electronic communication to lure a child. Required DOC to include this money in all future budgets.





NO. 83. AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. (ALSO KNOWN AS


“THE SAFE COMMUNITES ACT.” (2005)





Established a new voyeurism crime, commonly known as a “Peeping Tom” law.


Amended the stalking laws to include harassment of a family member and eased standard regarding fear of physical safety or emotional distress. Increased the penalty for stalking while in the possession of a deadly weapon.


Required the posting of pre-1996 sex offense convictions for offenders listed on the internet registry because they are recidivists.


Affirmed the right of law enforcement to engage in active community notification if law enforcement believes a particular sex offender poses a risk to members of the community.


Required the department of corrections to identify all sex offenders under its supervision who are high-risk and to designate them as such so that their information will be available on the internet sex offender registry.


Authorized special investigation organized and operating under current law for the investigation of sex crimes, child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, or crimes against those with physical or developmental disabilities units to obtain and disburse grant money in furtherance of their duties.


Required all felons to submit a DNA sample upon conviction.





NO. 157. AN ACT RELATING TO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND


COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION. (2004)





Established an internet sex offender registry.


Increased public access to registry information through telephone or other contact with law enforcement agencies or the registry.


Required sex offenders who attend college in Vermont to keep the registry informed of their enrollment status at a particular campus. Campus police would be notified that a registered sex offender is attending classes as a student.


Required persons who are convicted in federal court of a sexual offense to register as sex offenders in Vermont if they are living in this state.


Permitted homeless registrants to make arrangements with the registry to keep their information current even though they do not have a permanent fixed address.


Permitted the department of corrections to evaluate and designate certain sex offenders as high risk, which would subject such offenders to increased notification procedures.


Increased immunity for law enforcement and corrections employees in connection with the release of registry information provided that the actions were not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.


Required the department of public safety in cooperation with the department of corrections to develop a comprehensive training program to inform and instruct law enforcement and corrections personnel on the operation of the sex offender registry and the administration of this act.


Required the Vermont center for crime victim services in collaboration with the Vermont network against domestic violence and sexual assault and other appropriate agencies to develop a comprehensive plan for public education regarding sexual violence in Vermont.

[Beyond Belief]

Senator Sears. Ok

I received the same response.

[Jaded]

I got the same response from Sears, as well.

[bakerprune64]

I got the same response from Sears, as well.

Me three

[KR2tonenow]

If laws were passed after MJ was put in prison, then prior to release they needed to REVISE his sentence to reflect the NEW laws. Not let him out for good behavior.

[SeriouslySearching]

More on Judge Davenport (released MJ early) and Judge Cashman:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181875,00.html

(snip)
It is getting worse up in Vermont, as some in the green mountain state have launched a counter attack to defend Judge Edward Cashman (javascript:siteSearch('Judge Edward Cashman');), who sentenced 34-year-old man Mark Hulett (javascript:siteSearch('Mark Hulett');) to 60 days in prison for raping a six-year old girl over a four year period. Hulett is set to get out March 4th.
And now we learn that Hulett's best friend is also accused of abusing the little girl. 33-year old Derek Kimball has been charged with sexual assault. No trial date has been set.
Not only did Hulett rape the girl himself, but he may have set up another man to do the same thing. And Hulett gets 60 days.
Judge Cashman should have been gone last week, but so far no Vermont official has moved against him. And his boss, Superior Court Judge Amy Davenport, who could transfer him to civil court has refused to do.

I thought this should be posted here. GRRR!

[SeriouslySearching]

I just heard what the Vermont Gov said and I am shaking my head. Please make sure that you catch every word of what this man says...He is so messed up.

[dark_shadows]

Video included.

A New Call for Jessica's Law in Vermont



Randolph, Vermont -- July 5, 2008
Brook Bennett's murder has brought back calls for a tougher law against adults who sexually prey on children. More than thirty states -- but not Vermont -- have enacted Jessica's law, setting a 25-year minimum prison sentence for convicted child sex offenders.


Repectfully,
dark_shadows

[becca]

Congress passed the Adam Walsh Act, its up to each individual state to enforce it. What Congress neglected to do was give each state the funds necessary to do the job. The states are crying poverty over children.... we should be lobbying Congress for money for each state. Take some of that money sent overseas and spend it now on the children of this country.
sorry for the rant but it drives me nuts that politicians don't react when its necessary for children because they aren't old enough to vote yet.

[gardenmom]

Hello,
In Vermont, this is a time of mourning, prayer and reflection, compassion for the victims and solidarity as a community. For any politician to use this moment as an opportunity to comment on any agenda, including a good one, would be ugly and disrespectful. Please get back in touch at a more appropriate time.
Senator Dick McCormack

That was kind of a rude answer, don't you think?:furious:

[becca]

Well if it had been up to me I would have waited until the day after the funeral. Then send a nice letter to the father , explain what Jessie's law is and ask that he come out in favor of passing it. Either way I would email the pols after wards.

[Medea]

I'm all for tough laws, but IMO this is the easy way out.

The real change needs to come in EDUCATING people about child abuse so that when children come forward they are believed and that juries will convict

Having a law on the books for mandatory 20 years for child sexual abuse doesn't do any good if these guys get acquitted because juries won't convict.

[fran]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69003


Brooke's blood stains Vermont

Posted: July 08, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

© 2008

The State of Vermont, its criminal justice system, its state legislators and the parents and family of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett have her blood on their hands.

Brooke Bennett is "alleged" (sometimes I really hate having to use that word) to have been murdered by her uncle, Michael Jacques. Jacques has a long history of sex crimes dating back to 1985 – when he was charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl about 100 times. Prosecutors eventually dismissed the case. In 1993, he was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping. The affidavit in said case states that Jacques bound the victim and threatened to kill her while assaulting her. He was given a 6 to 20-year sentence but was released after only four years, based on Vermont's then "good time" policy.

As the former sex crimes prosecutor Wendy Murphy put it, "Vermont boasts the best sex treatment in the world – Jacques graduated in 2006 from their treatment program supposedly rehabilitated – but as we now tragically know, he was anything but.

Clinical psychologist Dr. George Zeo said, "there is a large body of research that says pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated." He added that pedophilia is an addiction – and just as a drug addict can relapse after a sustained drug-free period, so it is with pedophiles. Medication and sentencing guidelines may be able to keep their urges in check, but said urges are always there – any treatment must include keeping the pedophile away from children. That said, I submit that, in an open society, the only way to accomplish that is by life imprisonment. When they are paroled, it should be to the cemetery.

<<<<<<<<<<<more at link>>>>>>>>>

[Jaded]

Brooke's blood stains Vermont

Posted: July 08, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

© 2008

The State of Vermont, its criminal justice system, its state legislators and the parents and family of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett have her blood on their hands.

Brooke Bennett is "alleged" (sometimes I really hate having to use that word) to have been murdered by her uncle, Michael Jacques. Jacques has a long history of sex crimes dating back to 1985 – when he was charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl about 100 times. Prosecutors eventually dismissed the case. In 1993, he was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping. The affidavit in said case states that Jacques bound the victim and threatened to kill her while assaulting her. He was given a 6 to 20-year sentence but was released after only four years, based on Vermont's then "good time" policy.

As the former sex crimes prosecutor Wendy Murphy put it, "Vermont boasts the best sex treatment in the world – Jacques graduated in 2006 from their treatment program supposedly rehabilitated – but as we now tragically know, he was anything but.

Clinical psychologist Dr. George Zeo said, "there is a large body of research that says pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated." He added that pedophilia is an addiction – and just as a drug addict can relapse after a sustained drug-free period, so it is with pedophiles. Medication and sentencing guidelines may be able to keep their urges in check, but said urges are always there – any treatment must include keeping the pedophile away from children. That said, I submit that, in an open society, the only way to accomplish that is by life imprisonment. When they are paroled, it should be to the cemetery.

<<<<<<<<<<<more at link>>>>>>>>>
Do you have the link for the rest of this? Incredible post though. The system and her own family failed her, imo.

[fran]

Do you have the link for the rest of this? Incredible post though. The system and her own family failed her, imo.

Sorry about that. I thought the link was there, :crazy:, shoulda' checked after I posted.

fran

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69003

[Beyond Belief]

I received two beautiful responses to letters today
One from:George Coppenrath, Senator
Caledonia-Orange District
And: Sen JIM Condos

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

[bakerprune64]

I received two beautiful responses to letters today
One from:George Coppenrath, Senator
Caledonia-Orange District
And: Sen JIM Condos

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

I got this one today from Sen.George Coppenrath, thought I'd share...

I am on your side on this one. I co-sponsored a Jessica's Law in Vermont, S.283, with Senator Wilton in the Fall of '05; and worked to tighten Vt's laws regarding sex offenders; see links below:

http://www.vnews.com/sexcrimes/news-20060316.htm (http://www.vnews.com/sexcrimes/news-20060316.htm)

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060107/NEWS/601070332/1002/NEWS01 (http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060107/NEWS/601070332/1002/NEWS01)

We were successful in increasing the minimum from zero (that's right zero to life) to a mandatory miniumum of 10 years to life, with a compromise with liberals to allow a judge to go down to no less than 5 years only if he/she wrote in the record the reasons for the reduction.

I will continue to push for higher minimums.

Thank you for contacting me and other legislators,

George
George Coppenrath, Senator
Caledonia-Orange District

[bakerprune64]

Thanks for your email... Even though you are not a Vermonter, I will
attempt to answer your email.
Before I go further, what happened to Brooke Bennett was a heinous,
despicable crime. Justice must be served.
I have a daughter and cannot imagine the hate and anger I would feel if
something happened to her.

I am not sure where your info came from, but over the last 4 years, the
Vermont Legislature has reviewed and changed our laws over sexual abuse
to the point where Vermont's laws are nationally acclaimed and
considered very strong.

In general...

• Vermont has a comprehensive set of laws in place to prevent sexual
violence.
• These laws are specifically designed to prevent the offender from
commiting any further acts of sexual violence.
• While serving a jail sentence, presumed to be at least 10 years, the
offender must successfully complete a rehabilitation course.
• The offender is automatically placed on the sexual offender registry,
which is on the internet and can be accessed by the public. This
registry ensures that the offender will be under supervision of the
Department of Corrections for the rest of their life.
• It is important to remember that Vermont is one of the safest states
in the nation with one of the lowest crime rates per capita in the
country.
• While it may seem counter intuitive to argue against long mandatory
minimums, these long mandatory minimums often result in the offender
bringing the case to trial. Sexual violence cases are difficult to
prove and under this process half of the perpetrators are released onto
the street having served no jail time, received no treatment, and
without their names being placed on the sex offender registry.

What do we have in place to protect Vermont’s children:

Vermont’s laws have two main components – special sexual crime
investigative units and indeterminate lifetime sentencing. Special
investigative units, with specially trained police officers and social
workers, have proven successful in Chittenden and Grand Isle County at
gaining confessions from sex offenders. The Chittenden SIU opened in
1997. New units will now come to Bennington, Franklin-Grand Isle,
Windham and Windsor counties. Through the work of trained investigators,
SIUs bring more predators to prosecution, conviction, imprisonment and
treatment. Abused children and their families receive treatment to heal
the trauma and to help break the cycle created when untreated victims
grow up to become abusers themselves.

Once the offender confesses, he will serve time in prison - presumed to
be at least 10 years. He will also receive treatment as a condition of
release, and, upon release, will become part of the sex offender
registry. If the offender refuses to take part in treatment or violates
conditions of the sex offender registry he can be pulled back into
incarceration. He is under the supervision of the Department of
Corrections for life.

During the 2006 legislative session we closed one last loophole for
violent sex offenders who were imprisoned prior to passage of our new
laws. Under this new change, if an offender who has refused to undergo
treatment comes to the end of his maximum sentence, and if he is judged
to be at high risk to re-offend, he will be subject to a heightened sex
offender registry requirement. If he violates the terms of that
tightened registry he will be re-incarcerated with terms similar to
those of our more recently passed laws.

In 2006, Vermonters told their representatives that child sex offender
sentencing was not tough enough. In response, the legislature enacted
new, tougher child sex offender legislation (widely known as the “Sexual
Violence Prevention Act”), which includes but is not restricted to the
following changes:

• An increase to 10 years as a minimum sentence for aggravated sexual
assault, unless the judge deems a lesser sentence to be appropriate and
goes on record with his reasoning. Now, anyone convicted of aggravsexual assault must spend at least 5 years in prison, and as much as
life in prison.
• Offenders must stay in jail until they successfully complete a
rehabilitation course, regardless of how much of their sentences they
have served.
• Vermont has expanded the sex offender registry, with stricter
guidelines for previous offenders. Sex offenders will now be under
supervision by the Department of Corrections, every day for the rest of
their lives.
• The public can now access the online sex offender registry without
having to login or provide personal information. All repeat sex
offenders will appear on the internet registry, as well as all high-risk
lewd and lascivious offenders.
• Special investigative unites specializing in sex crimes are now
expanded to serve every region of the state.

Prior to the passage of this law, offenders would choose to max out
their sentence rather than receiving sex offender treatment. During the
most recent legislative session, legislators again worked to improve our
laws around child abuse. After findings showed the state could more
effectively manage the way in which it handles children who either
commit delinquent acts or who are badly abused or neglected, the
legislature rewrote our laws that guide our state’s response to child
abuse and neglect. The legislation emphasized the need for family
members to be considered before a child is committed to state custody
and extra support services for families were created in cases of
reported child abuse. The legislature also obtained written assurance
from the administration that staff cuts would not reduce services to
Vermont’s children at risk of abuse or neglect.

What about Jessica’s Law?

What distinguishes our laws from the so-called “Jessica’s Law” is that
our laws are more effective at keeping our communities safe from sexual
violence.

The Vermont Network Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, a victims’
advocacy organization, supports Vermont’s laws and does NOT support
Jessica’s Law. And, that may be why the National Council on State
Legislatures has informed us that fewer than 20 states have adopted
Jessica’s Law. According to the Center for Sex Offender Management, a
program of the U.S. Department of Justice, there is no data or evidence
that high mandatory minimum sentences improve public safety.

Sexual violence is a horrible crime that we all want to eradicate from
our communities. It sounds counter-intuitive to argue against long
mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders. But, if the accused
faces a mandatory sentence of 25 years, he is much more likely to take
the case to court, requiring a trial. Sex crimes, especially those
against children, are hard to prove. There are few witnesses and often
victims are unwilling to stand at the trial – it’s like going through
the crime all over again. As a result, generally only half the court
cases are successful. The other perpetrators go free, with no jail time
and no need to register on a sexual offender registry.

In fact, there are cases where states that have Jessica's laws are still
having sexual attacks on children. Even if we had passed the so-called
Jessica's Law in the last 3-4 years - it would not have done anything to
prevent what happened here in this case.

Helpful Facts

Child sexual abuse is a national problem, both serious and widespread.
Estimates say 1 in 7 boys and 1 in 4 girls has had some experience with
sexual abuse.

The most recent US government statistics show a rate of overall child
abuse at 11.9 victims for every 1,000 children. In Vermont, the rate was
8.4 – placing Vermont in the safest third of all states.

Nationally, the vast majority – possibly as high as 90% -- of child
sexual abuse is committed not by a stranger, but by someone the child
knows and trusts – a parent, grandparent, sibling or other family
member, a teacher, coach, clergy, camp counselor, scout leader, or
neighbor.

Vermont has one of the lowest crime ra2004 and 2005 ours was the third safest state in the U.S. Indeed,
Vermont is among the safest states in our nation for children to grow up
in and for families with children to visit.

The legislature is committed to maintaining this high standard of safety
and will continue to seek ways to further prevent child molestation in
our state and to bring offenders to justice.

Brooke Bennet Case Specifics

If Jacques is found guilty of sexual violence towards Brooke Bennet,
under the new sexual predator laws that came into effect in 2006 the
perpetrator he can be given an indeterminate sentence, which means he
will essentially be sentenced to life in prison unless and until he
completes sex offender treatment to the satisfaction the Department of
Corrections under the control of the Governor.

After being convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1993, Jacques
served time in prison and did receive sex offender treatment. He was
and is still listed on the sex offender registry.

In ‘93 people maxed out their sentences as an untreated sex offender.
Once a maximum is served in a facility or served on parole. Offenders
were choosing to max out their sentence rather than complete sex
offender treatment. More often than not they were in denial.

Hope this helps - you don't always get the real truth from the talking
heads on TV.

Sen JIM Condos

[becca]

nice letter with lots of details. a bit defensive about the laws though,none are perfect.

[stillblv]

VT is still advocating the rehab program - which has been shown NOT TO WORK! You cannot rehab a pedophile!

Secondly, the problem with VT is that discretion is given to judges as to how to apply the law. No matter how strict the law is, if the judge is given discretion then what happened with Jacques will keep happening!

[Medea]

Judges always have discretion in how to apply the law and what range of sentence the convicted person gets, they are the ones who also approve plea bargains.

It sounds to me like at this point the laws in Vermont are not the problem and I am in agreement that a mandatory 25 year prison term for all child sex offenders would result in fewer convictions.

The real problem with sexual assualt is that people do not understand it and the average person's expectations of evidence are usually not met in a trial, especially in cases of child abuse.

Though I do agree that most sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated and most that go through these programs only do so to get earlier parole.

[liljim]

this judge owes it to the community to examine why she thought jacques was cured and the fact that she was dead wrong, not that she caused this tragedy, but that she is in a unique position to see just how difficult and dangerous these issues are.

she was sitting there looking in the face of a guy that was CURRENTLY re-offending and she told him "you are cured, you are no longer a threat".

she needs to step down from the bench and dedicate herself to examining sexual offenders and the most prudent way to protect the community from them.

[Medea]

this judge owes it to the community to examine why she thought jacques was cured and the fact that she was dead wrong, not that she caused this tragedy, but that she is in a unique position to see just how difficult and dangerous these issues are.

she was sitting there looking in the face of a guy that was CURRENTLY re-offending and she told him "you are cured, you are no longer a threat".

she needs to step down from the bench and dedicate herself to examining sexual offenders and the most prudent way to protect the community from them.


I'm not sure its fair to say she "caused" the tragedy, but I think its fair to say that letting a violent rapist with TWO sex crime accusations on his record have anything but the maximum length of parole is INSANE.

If he's really 'compliant' then how is parole going to hurt him? Oh, poor, freaking guy, getting inconvenienced...who cares. That's what happens when you kidnap and rape 18 year old girls.

So, I agree, the judge owes the community an explanation and whatever supervisory role she might have needs to go away.

[Starr58]

What about the numerous sex offenders who are released on bail pending trial, granted they are released on conditions, but nevertheless, in Vermont, many are released on bail.

And many re-offend while on bail and then plea bargain the charges down.

[Medea]

What about the numerous sex offenders who are released on bail pending trial, granted they are released on conditions, but nevertheless, in Vermont, many are released on bail.

And many re-offend while on bail and then plea bargain the charges down.

This happens in every state. Bail is granted in almost all crimes including rape and murder, it is certainly not unique to Vermont and neither is criminals committing crimes while out on bail. The majority of cases are plea bargained in all states.

I just disagree that the problem is lack of tough laws on sex offenders. Everyone 100% wants the abstract child abuser/rapist to spend the rest of his life in jail...but when we get out of the abstract and look at individual cases a lot of time the view shifts, there is a huge amount of vicitm bashing in sexual assault cases, child or adult and a lot of people are not going to convict in these cases, this is shown by the low, low rates of prosection and conviction for sex crimes that are reported.

Even in this case, AR is 14, sexually active. If she had gone to police, what is her evidence? If there isn't any of Jacques DNA its her word against his. His prior sexual accusation would not be allowed in any trial [which is wrong], so all he has to say is 'she's falsely accusing me because I didn't want her having sex with her boyfriend' and I am telling you, A LOT of people would refuse to convict him. I don't think her mother would have backed her up or probably even told police about what she had witnessed.

I do agree that sentences are too light, but thats partly because the defense lawyers know that convictions are very hard so they have a lot of leverage with prosecutors in getting weak sentences. This is wrong, but until society catches up with law enforcement on understanding the dynamics of sex crimes, I can't see it changing.

[Starr58]

I don't believe that the "problem" is going to be solved with ONLY tougher laws. There is never only one solution to a "problem".

Tougher laws, stricter supervision of probationary SO and frequent monitoring, quicker re-incarceration of offenders not abiding by conditions of release, a no bail statue for second offenses, and a commitment by Vermont to have the children of this state be the number one priority would go a long way in improving the lives of many children.

[Medea]

I don't believe that the "problem" is going to be solved with ONLY tougher laws. There is never only one solution to a "problem".

Tougher laws, stricter supervision of probationary SO and frequent monitoring, quicker re-incarceration of offenders not abiding by conditions of release, a no bail statue for second offenses, and a commitment by Vermont to have the children of this state be the number one priority would go a long way in improving the lives of many children.


I will have to respectfully disagree. Tougher laws are only good AFTER the perpetrator is convicted. If prosecutors won't bring cases to trial and jury's won't convict then the toughest law on the books does nothing. The perpetrator goes free. The conviction and prosecution rate for sex crimes are the lowest of all violent crimes by a wide margin, and in my opinion, the reason is that jury's are reluctant to convict without overwhelming evidence, which simply does exist in the majority of sex crime cases.

[Tom'sGirl]

Vt. Corrections Officials Revisit Probation Ruling

By Mark Davis

Valley News Staff Writer

As friends and relatives gather to mourn 12-year-old Brooke Bennett at her funeral today, Vermont's top corrections official is examining whether the child's uncle -- convicted sex offender Michael Jacques -- was released early from probation in late 2006 against Corrections Department recommendations.

In an interview yesterday, Vermont Corrections Commissioner Rob Hofmann said that while the judge who approved Jacques' early release indicated in her ruling that a probation officer supported the decision, internal documents show the department was opposed to letting Jacques off probation. Hofmann said the department is investigating the discrepancy.

“We're still trying to understand that,” said Hofmann, who became commissioner in 2005. “We have indications in the case file that the department would not support the release because of the violent nature of the offense.

“It is clear to me the department didn't support (Jacques' release),” Hofmann said.

But Judge Amy Davenport apparently thought differently.

Cont'd: http://www.vnews.com/07092008/4941902.htm (http://www.vnews.com/07092008/4941902.htm)

[Starr58]

UPDATE: 7/08/08 2:53 am EST

Public outrage over the death of Brooke Bennett has the residents of Vermont circulating petitions to get Jessica's Law on individual town's November ballots. Other than indicating that the forms must be returned to each town's clerk by September 15th, no further details are available.


Vermont is one of 10 states that has failed to enact Jessica's Law, a 2005 Florida law designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend. The law is named after Jessica Lunsford and was enacted due to the public's outrage over Jessica's death. Jessica was raped and murdered in Florida, in 2005, by John Couey, a previously convicted sex-offender.

Among the key provisions of the law is a 25 year mandatory sentence apparently objected to by most State of Vermont prosecutors and one of the reasons Vermont's Legislature has not moved to pass Jessica's Law.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/spotlight-vermont-brooke-bennett-jessicas-law

[Starr58]

Anyone convicted prior to the establisment of registry is NOT included in the registry. there are 100's of offenders not on the list.

This needs to be changed!!!

[Starr58]

Gov. Jim Douglas, R-Vermont, says the Corrections Department made a mistake when it supported early probation release for Brooke Bennett's uncle-- who is now charged with kidnapping her.

In 2006, Michael Jacques was released seven years early from probation for raping and kidnapping a teenager in Rutland in 1992.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8657128

[Starr58]

1. Include all offenders on the Sex Offender Registry not just those in the Community and include release dates from both probation and incarceration. Sex Offenders need to be "registered" For LIFE.

2.Address of Sex offender. It isn't enough to know who they are. In order to protect children the public needs to know where they are !!!

3. Make the Registry more user friendly. Change from it being searchable by county to be searchable by last name & first name. Similiar to the inmate Locator database.

4. Sex Offender Registry should be a part of the Department of Corrections website. Put all names into one database. Inmates and Sex Offenders.

5. Update Registry Information monthly. This can be accomplished through the information that is gathered from the DOC staffs' monthly contact with offender. Date of contact recorded in registry.

6. Any child related offense- second offense- Can be held without bail.

7. Public notification of release on websites, in newspapers, TV. and Radio.


Those are what I have of the top of my head for improvements and would appreciate others thoughts.


dark shadows...what is our current Vermont Statues for Sexual Assault on a Child, Aggravated Sexual on a Child or any others that should be looked at.

PLease, Please..post responses in the Demand Change In Vermont Law" Forum

[Starr58]

Brooke Bennet Case Specifics

If Jacques is found guilty of sexual violence towards Brooke Bennet,
under the new sexual predator laws that came into effect in 2006 the
perpetrator he can be given an indeterminate sentence, which means he
will essentially be sentenced to life in prison unless and until he
completes sex offender treatment to the satisfaction the Department of
Corrections under the control of the Governor.

After being convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1993, Jacques
served time in prison and did receive sex offender treatment. He was
and is still listed on the sex offender registry.

In ‘93 people maxed out their sentences as an untreated sex offender.
Once a maximum is served in a facility or served on parole. Offenders
were choosing to max out their sentence rather than complete sex
offender treatment. More often than not they were in denial.

Hope this helps - you don't always get the real truth from the talking
heads on TV.

Sen JIM Condos



Jacques Should no longer be eligible for Sex Offender treatment !!!! The only choice must be Life LONG Confinement!! What a Fricken Insult to the Vermont Taxpayers!!!

[amomandherblog]

Feel free to change the text and repost.

Dear Vermont Senator:

Brooke Bennett was killed by a previously convicted sex offender Michael Jacques. She was 12 years old and was apparently killed by her Uncle for sex. Michael Jacques was let out of prison after serving 3 years for kidnapping and rape, now he has committed murder against his 12 year old niece for sex. You've heard the news, seen the pictures. Do you have children? Are you ready to enact Jessica's Law yet?

The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison[2] and lifetime electronic monitoring[3] of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is a capital felony, punishable only by death or life imprisonment with no chance of parole. Taken from Wikipedia.

Please tell me your stance now on this law after this brutal killing of a 12 year old girl in your state by a previous sex offender and kidnapper. Can you tell me whose decision it was to let Michael Jacques out of prison after only serving 3 years for rape and kidnapping?

The country is looking at you to pass this law in your state now.

Hoping to hear from you.


Send to:

The Vermont Legislature
Legislative Directory E-Mail Addresses for Senators
2007-2008 Legislative Session


cayer@leg.state.vt.us; sbartlett@leg.state.vt.us; jcampbell@leg.state.vt.us; vt13@aol.com; bcarris@leg.state.vt.us; bill.carris@carris.net; bill.carris@carris.net; dcollins@leg.state.vt.us; jcondos@leg.state.vt.us; gcoppenrath@leg.state.vt.us; george.coppenrath@gmail.com; acummings@leg.state.vt.us; wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us; EFlanagan@leg.state.vt.us; hgiard@leg.state.vt.us; rhartwell@leg.state.vt.us; hartlaw@sover.net; villuzzi@leg.state.vt.us; janek45@hotmail.com; skittell@leg.state.vt.us; vlyons@leg.state.vt.us; vvlyons@cs.com; mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us; senatormark@aol.com; Hull@sover.net; rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us; dick@mccormack4vt.com; hmiller@leg.state.vt.us; hinda@deforestconcepts.com; kjmbjm@aol.com; anitka@leg.state.vt.us; alicenitka@comcast.net; dracine@leg.state.vt.us; pscott14@aol.com; rsears@leg.state.vt.us; senprespt@leg.state.vt.us; dsnelling@leg.state.vt.us; jwhite@leg.state.vt.us


Beyond Belief, I posted your letter and the addresses (and emailed them all as well) on my blog, I hope that's ok. Vermont just continues to drive me crazy with the stuff they choose to worry about.

[Starr58]

LT. Governor Dubie: Vermont Must Crack Down on Sex Offenders

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Montpelier, Vermont - July 14, 2008

Two weeks after 12-year-old Brooke Bennett was found murdered, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie, R-Vermont, continues to call for tougher laws against sexual offenders.

Monday, he held a press conference highlighting some of the changes he would like the state to make which include chemical castration for repeat offenders, mandatory life sentences for some violent assaults, and the adoption of Jessica's law. Dubie says the state's legal status quo is unacceptable when it comes to sexual assaults on a child. He's asking the governor and the legislature to convene a special session 30 days from now to overhaul the system.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8669461

[Starr58]

(MONTPELIER) – Lt. Governor Brian Dubie today urged Governor Douglas to convene a special session of the Vermont legislature to begin to reform state laws concerning sexual predators. He also launched a statewide petition drive, inviting Vermonters who agree that the state can do more to protect children and women against sexual predators to sign and circulate the petition, which is available on his website at www.ltgov.vermont.gov Among the reforms he called for are:

A comprehensive review of our criminal justice system. I call for a thorough investigation of Vermont's laws and policies that should protect Vermont’s children from sex offenders.

Adoption of a Jessica’s Law, which would set a 25-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for a first-time convicted child sexual abuser. Our law could be modeled on New Hampshire’s law that includes a “presumptive” clause, for cases where the evidence is weak or the victim chooses not to testify. It allows a judge to impose a lesser term, accompanied by explanation of the decision. We would essentially be strengthening Vermont’s current law, which has a “presumptive” 10-year minimum sentence and a 5-year minimum mandatory sentence.

A mandatory life sentence for a second-time violent sexual offense against a child.

Passage of a civil confinement law that would extend prison stays for certain high-risk offenders who have served their terms, but who by clear criteria are known to be highly likely to re-offend.

Utilizing chemical castration and physical castration treatments for habitual sex offenders


Broadening the criteria for listing child predators on Vermont’s Online Sex Offender Registry, and making it more user-friendly, as it is in other states, and for better monitoring of sex offenders using GPS technology.

Tough penalties for those who harbor a sex offender who violates registration requirements.

Expansion and funding for Special Investigative Units, to improve conviction rates and sentencing.

Adoption of laws that would allow evidence of prior sexual misconduct to be admissible in sex crimes cases, as it is in 12 other states and in federal court.

Collection by law enforcement authorities of DNA samples from anyone arrested in our state that could assist in cracking unsolved sex crimes.

[Medea]

(MONTPELIER) – Lt. Governor Brian Dubie today urged Governor Douglas to convene a special session of the Vermont legislature to begin to reform state laws concerning sexual predators. He also launched a statewide petition drive, inviting Vermonters who agree that the state can do more to protect children and women against sexual predators to sign and circulate the petition, which is available on his website at www.ltgov.vermont.gov Among the reforms he called for are:

A comprehensive review of our criminal justice system. I call for a thorough investigation of Vermont's laws and policies that should protect Vermont’s children from sex offenders.

-Agree.

Adoption of a Jessica’s Law, which would set a 25-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for a first-time convicted child sexual abuser. Our law could be modeled on New Hampshire’s law that includes a “presumptive” clause, for cases where the evidence is weak or the victim chooses not to testify. It allows a judge to impose a lesser term, accompanied by explanation of the decision. We would essentially be strengthening Vermont’s current law, which has a “presumptive” 10-year minimum sentence and a 5-year minimum mandatory sentence.

-Disagree, this will have the opposite of the intended effect and will result in fewer convictions.
I continue to believe that if AR had come forward with allegations of sexual abuse that a jury would not have believed her unless there was DNA evidence..which there usually isn't because the child doesn't usually tell right after an attack...and remember, his previous arrest for a sex crime would NOT be admissable. It would be the word of a sexually active 14 year old against her step father.


A mandatory life sentence for a second-time violent sexual offense against a child.

Agree.

Passage of a civil confinement law that would extend prison stays for certain high-risk offenders who have served their terms, but who by clear criteria are known to be highly likely to re-offend.

Agree!

Utilizing chemical castration and physical castration treatments for habitual sex offenders

Disagree on physical castration.

Broadening the criteria for listing child predators on Vermont’s Online Sex Offender Registry, and making it more user-friendly, as it is in other states, and for better monitoring of sex offenders using GPS technology.

It depends on what is meant by broadening the category of a child predator...a 17 year old who has consensual sex with a 13 year old is not a child predator in my opinion. Agree about making it user friendly.


Tough penalties for those who harbor a sex offender who violates registration requirements.
Okay, but how are you going to prove the person knows they are harboring a sex offender? This could end up wasting resources prosecuting landlords or relatives on technical violations if you could even prove they had the requisite knowledge that the offender was in violation. GPS tracking would make this a non starter anyway..

Expansion and funding for Special Investigative Units, to improve conviction rates and sentencing.



Adoption of laws that would allow evidence of prior sexual misconduct to be admissible in sex crimes cases, as it is in 12 other states and in federal court.

[COLOR="blue"]Agree, this is huge. This may be the most important thing on the list. I don't believe anyone gets wrongly accused of a sex crime more than once, so previous evidence of sexual misconduct should be considered presumptively relevant. The fact that in a majority of states a jury is not told of previous allegations, even previous convictions on sex crimes is ridiculous.

Collection by law enforcement authorities of DNA samples from anyone arrested in our state that could assist in cracking unsolved sex crimes.

Disagree. What if you are arrested for failure to pay parking tickets, or being drunk and disorderly or possession of weed? I agree that DNA should be taken from those who are arrested for VIOLENT felonies, and there should be a mechanism for the DNA to be taken out of the database if it is proven to be a false arrest, e.g. the person arrested is determined to be factually innocent, not just unprosecutable.

I would add special training for sex crime prosecutors and funding to study the viability of a sex crime court that would be staffed w/specially trained lawyers and judges with separate rules of evidence to make the process more fair to victims.

[LI_Mom]

Keeping this sad case in perspective......

MJ's previous conviction was for an attack on an 18 year old victim. That's an adult in the eyes of the law... not a child.

And before that "lewd and lascivious conduct" but no conviction in that case.


VT had no legal reason to even consider or treat him as a pedophile... a sex offender yes. A pedophile, no.

[LI_Mom]

Disagree. What if you are arrested for failure to pay parking tickets, or being drunk and disorderly or possession of weed? I agree that DNA should be taken from those who are arrested for VIOLENT felonies, and there should be a mechanism for the DNA to be taken out of the database if it is proven to be a false arrest, e.g. the person arrested is determined to be factually innocent, not just unprosecutable.



I agree. 500%

[Starr58]

Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie says Vermont must crack down on sex offenders.

http://www.wptz.com/video/16882332/

Attorney General Sorrell and Zuckerman need to go spend a day in the cell with both MJ & RG.

The first area of change needs to be the process of appointing judges by the members of the legislature!! Liberal Legislature makes for liberal judges which makes for liberal sentences for these animals!

A tree and a rope is the sentence they deserve!!

[Starr58]

By Jane Lindholm

http://www.vpr.net/episode/44000/

In the wake of Brooke Bennett's death, we take a closer look at Vermont's sex offender laws. The body of the 12-year-old Braintree girl was found last week, and federal prosecutors have charged her uncle with kidnapping. Now, some lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the state's sex offender laws, and for the passage of "Jessica's Law", which requires a 25-year minimum sentence for sex offenders. Attorney General Bill Sorrell explains Vermont's current sex offender laws, how they've changed, and why Vermont has a national reputation as being lenient on offenders.

UGGGHHHH Thats Vermont"s APPOINTED Liberal Attorney General who spent more time on the tobacco industry lawsuit and negected and ignored the sex offender fiasco in Vermont. Vermont's Attorney General Sorrell does NOT support Jessica's LAW!!!

[Starr58]

As public servants, our most important responsibility is to protect the most vulnerable among us from harm. Children represent our greatest hope for a better tomorrow and it is heart-wrenching for all of us when we are confronted with cases of abuse – especially sexual abuse against children.

There has been a great deal of talk, finger-pointing and grandstanding in recent days regarding the tragedy of Brooke Bennett’s death. This does nothing to serve Brooke’s memory. This does nothing to address the failures of that particular case and, more importantly, it does nothing to protect children all across our state who deserve to grow up in a safe and loving community.

Last week, I called for an immediate and aggressive internal investigation surrounding a probation officer’s 2004 recommendation that a judge grant Michael Jacques an early discharge from probation. Both the position of the probation officer and decision of the judge in that case couldn’t have been more wrong. I have demanded an overhaul of the department’s policies and practices to ensure that no judge can irresponsibly use the misguided recommendation of a probation officer to release a repeat sex offender from probation.

While that investigation is underway, and until a full report is issued by the Department, I have ordered that under no circumstances will a probation or parole officer or any other individual, department or agency support the early release of any sex offender before they have served their maximum sentence.

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs....NEWS/813679555

[LI_Mom]

Changing the laws & making them more realistic is important but it's just a false sense of security. It focuses on dealing with pedophiles only AFTER they've been caught.

What we should be asking is why are there so many pedophiles in our society & can we do something to decrease this horrific number?

How do we deal with the problem of children NOT reporting when they are sexually abused?

Because we will NEVER stop pedophiles from hurting children if children are silent.

[Medea]

Changing the laws & making them more realistic is important but it's just a false sense of security. It focuses on dealing with pedophiles only AFTER they've been caught.

What we should be asking is why are there so many pedophiles in our society & can we do something to decrease this horrific number?

How do we deal with the problem of children NOT reporting when they are sexually abused?

Because we will NEVER stop pedophiles from hurting children if children are silent.

I agree, but it seems that most people are so emotional on the subject that the horrific rate of prosecution and conviction for sex offenders goes in one ear and out the other.

The overwhelming majority of sex crimes against children do NOT include DNA...if you've got an adult's DNA on a child then its a virtual no brainer, though I have seen defenses where the perp will say it came from the laundry being 'mixed together' and have seen juries believe it and vote to acquit.

Expecting a child to go forward to a trusted adult in time for physical evidence to be collected is unrealistic. So, the truth is, what the prosecution has in MOST cases is the testimony of a minor witness vs. the testimony of an adult witness who is already skilled enough in manipulation to have been able to commit these crimes for some period of time. Often the mother of the child will support her husband and not her child.

The people who think these harsh laws on sex offenders are going to be a cure all must never have followed a sex crime trial. They must never have seen how the child will be called a liar and how the perpetrator will claim that the child is lying out of spite due to being disciplined. They must never have read that sexual abuses causes children to act out...to lie, to be aggressive, to fail in school...so that the very symptoms of sexual abuse will cause the child to be LESS credible to a jury.

My research shows me that there is a pretty small window..of about 7 or 8 to about 10 years old when the child is generally believed...younger than that, if there isn't DNA the child is not convincing, and older than that, the child is attacked as a wanton liar. If the child doesn't come forward until they're a teenager, forget a conviction in most cases.

THese dirtbags already refuse to confess...how in the world does anyone think that a mandatory 25 year sentence is going to get them to confess at a higher rate when they already know their chances for acquittal are better than 50/50?????????

[Starr58]

http://doc.vermont.gov/facts-and-figures-for-2007

[Starr58]

http://doc.vermont.gov/programs/vtpsa/

[becca]

I agree, but it seems that most people are so emotional on the subject that the horrific rate of prosecution and conviction for sex offenders goes in one ear and out the other.

The overwhelming majority of sex crimes against children do NOT include DNA...if you've got an adult's DNA on a child then its a virtual no brainer, though I have seen defenses where the perp will say it came from the laundry being 'mixed together' and have seen juries believe it and vote to acquit.

Expecting a child to go forward to a trusted adult in time for physical evidence to be collected is unrealistic. So, the truth is, what the prosecution has in MOST cases is the testimony of a minor witness vs. the testimony of an adult witness who is already skilled enough in manipulation to have been able to commit these crimes for some period of time. Often the mother of the child will support her husband and not her child.

The people who think these harsh laws on sex offenders are going to be a cure all must never have followed a sex crime trial. They must never have seen how the child will be called a liar and how the perpetrator will claim that the child is lying out of spite due to being disciplined. They must never have read that sexual abuses causes children to act out...to lie, to be aggressive, to fail in school...so that the very symptoms of sexual abuse will cause the child to be LESS credible to a jury.

My research shows me that there is a pretty small window..of about 7 or 8 to about 10 years old when the child is generally believed...younger than that, if there isn't DNA the child is not convincing, and older than that, the child is attacked as a wanton liar. If the child doesn't come forward until they're a teenager, forget a conviction in most cases.

THese dirtbags already refuse to confess...how in the world does anyone think that a mandatory 25 year sentence is going to get them to confess at a higher rate when they already know their chances for acquittal are better than 50/50?????????you make valid points, but what do we do?We go to schools and talk to kids, but the parents still are an issue... they do not believe their children until its way too late.... i have been thru this and i wanted to take the mother out and slap her silly. she called her daughter every name there was. The girl was telling the truth. her abuse went on for years. The adults in her life failed her. Now how do we get over that hurdle? If the news media hasn't made it clear to these parents that the child isn't a liar how do we?

[Medea]

you make valid points, but what do we do?We go to schools and talk to kids, but the parents still are an issue... they do not believe their children until its way too late.... i have been thru this and i wanted to take the mother out and slap her silly. she called her daughter every name there was. The girl was telling the truth. her abuse went on for years. The adults in her life failed her. Now how do we get over that hurdle? If the news media hasn't made it clear to these parents that the child isn't a liar how do we?

I'm a big believer that we should start looking at sex crime courts where EVERYONE...the judge, the prosecutor, all of the experts have been certified as knowledgeble about sex crimes....it needs to come out of the hands of a jury and be more like juvenile and family court. That's the only way I see getting over the huge prejudices and wrong notions that the general public have about these crimes. Everyone has been told since the 1970s that a woman's sexual history is irrelevant but still in court the defense is going to get an acquittal if they can successfully paint the victim as loose....Sometimes the public takes a long time to catch up with the law and science.

I don't have any detailed knowledge on what they teach children in school about sexual abuse, though the surveys are pretty consistent from state to state on percentages of children and teens who are abused. Maybe schools need to be more aggressive in their messages about inappropriate sexual behavior as a way to get children to come forward. But, we're still faced with the cultural issues of what happens to the child in terms of her/his peers how the victim will be treated etc.

As far as mothers in name only...I doubt anything is going to change that. But, again, we forget that for most of our history children were seen as possessions...you sold your daughters for as good a dowry as you could get and your sons were for working in the family business..husbands beating wives and parents beating children was a private matter. the idea that they should have an idylic childhood free from abuse and grow up to marry for love is a very, very new concept.

I don't want to mislead people into thinking that I am soft on sex offenders, I would throw every college date rapist into jail and I would sentence every stranger rapist to at least 50 years and absent a reason to disbelieve a victim, I believe them. But, in reality, the society we live in is tough on victims of sex crimes over the age of 10 and we have a much, much bigger problem in getting victims to even report their abuse, and getting juries, families and LE to believe them...

I served on a child rape trial...10 year old girl abused by her stepfather. In my trial, the mother believed her husband over her daughter, the aunt and grandmother believed the child. And yes, we convicted him, but there were 2 holdouts because there wasn't any DNA evidence...it was all testimonial.

[Salem]

http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=1673

I'm putting this link here, because I believe women should be held accountable for their failure to protect their children.

A snip from the article:

"We also have people that just look the other way … mostly women, that tend to become deaf, dumb and blind at the first hint that all is not well in the home …. that their son, or daughter might be a victim. These women are usually in survival mode, dependent on the male for everything, from food to drugs. They allow their children to be exposed to the vile child predator because it’s easier for them. They become so desperate for a man that nothing else matters … and your average low-life predator knows just how to seek out, find and ingratiate himself to a woman like that."

I think the bolded portion of this text is bullsh*!. In these cases, it is usually the woman who has the job, brings home the bacon, cooks it up in the pan, and deals with the boyfriend/husband's BS. Survival mode, my azz. They are just "desperate for a man"! They could take care of themselves and generally do take care of their families with very little help from the POS.

No more excuses for women! It is time they are taught to get their heads out and pay attention! Because we make excuses for them and let them off the hook, because after all, they are just so defenseless and can't support themselves, that so much of this this stuff continues. They are in the home, watching this stuff happen before their very eyes and they can't take action?!?

We can not continue to allow women to be "victims," we must hold them accountable. Just like "give a man a fish, he eats for one day, teach him how to fish, he eats for the rest of his life." Allow a woman to be a victim, keep her a victim for life, teach her to be accountable, she makes responsible decisions.

Sorry for the rant, I just am tired of the sorry excuses we make for women.

Salem

[LI_Mom]

I'm a big believer that we should start looking at sex crime courts where EVERYONE...the judge, the prosecutor, all of the experts have been certified as knowledgeble about sex crimes....it needs to come out of the hands of a jury and be more like juvenile and family court. That's the only way I see getting over the huge prejudices and wrong notions that the general public have about these crimes. Everyone has been told since the 1970s that a woman's sexual history is irrelevant but still in court the defense is going to get an acquittal if they can successfully paint the victim as loose....Sometimes the public takes a long time to catch up with the law and science.

I don't have any detailed knowledge on what they teach children in school about sexual abuse, though the surveys are pretty consistent from state to state on percentages of children and teens who are abused. Maybe schools need to be more aggressive in their messages about inappropriate sexual behavior as a way to get children to come forward. But, we're still faced with the cultural issues of what happens to the child in terms of her/his peers how the victim will be treated etc.

As far as mothers in name only...I doubt anything is going to change that. But, again, we forget that for most of our history children were seen as possessions...you sold your daughters for as good a dowry as you could get and your sons were for working in the family business..husbands beating wives and parents beating children was a private matter. the idea that they should have an idylic childhood free from abuse and grow up to marry for love is a very, very new concept.

I don't want to mislead people into thinking that I am soft on sex offenders, I would throw every college date rapist into jail and I would sentence every stranger rapist to at least 50 years and absent a reason to disbelieve a victim, I believe them. But, in reality, the society we live in is tough on victims of sex crimes over the age of 10 and we have a much, much bigger problem in getting victims to even report their abuse, and getting juries, families and LE to believe them...

I served on a child rape trial...10 year old girl abused by her stepfather. In my trial, the mother believed her husband over her daughter, the aunt and grandmother believed the child. And yes, we convicted him, but there were 2 holdouts because there wasn't any DNA evidence...it was all testimonial.

And that's exactly WHY children continue to be victims.... because society really isn't prepared to protect them.

We need to change the way we look at FAMILIES & what we will do for children WHEN their parents aren't protecting them if they come forward with stories of ABUSE.

It takes a village to raise a child sometimes will mean just that. That takes money & it takes comprehensive programs to deal with these issues.

What do we risk? Yes, there WILL be some families that are torn apart because of FALSE allegations. After thorough investigations AND intensive therapy &/or parenting classes when needed, we can determine which families can be reunited.

If we don't protect children when they DO come forward, it only sends a message to other children that there's no point in coming forward.


Oh and it also wouldn't hurt if we as a society start questioning what effect the endless parade of highly sexualized teen celebrities is having on our young children & HOW that might also be sending mixed messages to potential & known pedophiles.

If we have Miley Cyrus posing provocatively at age 15 or Britney's little sister unmarried & pregnant before she graduates high school and we bend over backwards to JUSTIFY that, how on earth will we EVER slow down the ever increasing demand for CP????

Why do parents think their kids are on MySpace on IMs having inappropriate conversations with creeps anyway? Do kids even KNOW what's inappropriate anymore? They flirt with danger & sometimes find out too late that they're in over their heads.

[becca]

JoAnne Thomas needs to get the facts straight.... she might have a case if she did. MJ was not convicted of raping a CHILD. He was not charged with raping Brooke and neither was RG.
I agree with you that mothers have to be held accountable. If they knowingly allow a POS RSO around their child then they should be accountable.
If a guy is not on the list what happens then? She doesn't know, not until her child tells her . She calls the cops and he's arrested. Do we charge her too? What happens to her children that she just tried to get out before anything worse happened than touching? Now we charge her and take the children away to where? Family? Fostercare?
I agree they are women that need to be charged but then where do we draw the line?

[Medea]

And that's exactly WHY children continue to be victims.... because society really isn't prepared to protect them.

We need to change the way we look at FAMILIES & what we will do for children WHEN their parents aren't protecting them if they come forward with stories of ABUSE.

It takes a village to raise a child sometimes will mean just that. That takes money & it takes comprehensive programs to deal with these issues.

What do we risk? Yes, there WILL be some families that are torn apart because of FALSE allegations. After thorough investigations AND intensive therapy &/or parenting classes when needed, we can determine which families can be reunited.

If we don't protect children when they DO come forward, it only sends a message to other children that there's no point in coming forward.


Oh and it also wouldn't hurt if we as a society start questioning what effect the endless parade of highly sexualized teen celebrities is having on our young children & HOW that might also be sending mixed messages to potential & known pedophiles.

If we have Miley Cyrus posing provocatively at age 15 or Britney's little sister unmarried & pregnant before she graduates high school and we bend over backwards to JUSTIFY that, how on earth will we EVER slow down the ever increasing demand for CP????

Why do parents think their kids are on MySpace on IMs having inappropriate conversations with creeps anyway? Do kids even KNOW what's inappropriate anymore? They flirt with danger & sometimes find out too late that they're in over their heads.


Ah, well, once you get into the full scale cultural breakdown of American society...what can you say?

I agree about the oversexualization of children, it blows my mind that parents let their children and even in some cases buy their children things that if worn on an adult would indicate they were a working girl.

My only fear about gov. intervention is that sometimes the cure--foster care--is as bad or worse than the disease. Children put into foster care have a pretty bad track record as far as turning out successful. You're taking an already troubled, vulnerable child and ripping away what ever bit of structure and affectiion, however bad or twisted, and putting them in the company of total strangers. So, I do have sympathy with the social workers who try to keep families together because they know that foster care isn't much of an answer....

It just feels to me, that for whatever reason, everybody seems to get it wrong most of the time. The cases where there are crystal clear signs of major abuse [Nizmarie, the girl in NYC], nothing happens. Other times, when we're talking about nasty neighbors or flawed paperwork...full investigations are ordered. Same with sex offenders. The real crazies keep getting released or paroled or acquitted or sent to jail for 3 or 4 years and we're spending more and more time putting the teacher in jail who had an affair with his/her 15 year old student....again, not that I condone teachers having sex with children, but I draw a very BRIGHT line between consensual but illegal sex with a teenager and sex that is forced and unwanted.

[LI_Mom]

JoAnne Thomas needs to get the facts straight.... she might have a case if she did. MJ was not convicted of raping a CHILD. He was not charged with raping Brooke and neither was RG.
I agree with you that mothers have to be held accountable. If they knowingly allow a POS RSO around their child then they should be accountable.
If a guy is not on the list what happens then? She doesn't know, not until her child tells her . She calls the cops and he's arrested. Do we charge her too? What happens to her children that she just tried to get out before anything worse happened than touching? Now we charge her and take the children away to where? Family? Fostercare?
I agree they are women that need to be charged but then where do we draw the line?


And what are the chances that AR ever told Denise that MJ touched her? So many young children are afraid to tell.

And by the time she was a teenager & Denise saw signs that made her wonder, I'm sure AR swore up & down that her mother was wrong & that MJ would never touch her. And probably called her mother disgusting & crazy for even thinking he would do something like that.

[becca]

And what are the chances that AR ever told Denise that MJ touched her? So many young children are afraid to tell.

And by the time she was a teenager & Denise saw signs that made her wonder, I'm sure AR swore up & down that her mother was wrong & that MJ would never touch her. And probably called her mother disgusting & crazy for even thinking he would do something like that.

In the grand scheme of things Denise should NEVER have brought a SO into her home. That right there is a punishable offense in my book. She set her young daughter up. I do not care to hear her excuses he's a changed man. he loves us. he'd never harm anyone...
he already did... more than once.
As for AR no daughter should have been in that position in the first place. First sign of trouble you don't confront the child, you go outside the home for help. If she didn't and stayed with him then she's just as responsible as he is.

[LI_Mom]

Ah, well, once you get into the full scale cultural breakdown of American society...what can you say?

I agree about the oversexualization of children, it blows my mind that parents let their children and even in some cases buy their children things that if worn on an adult would indicate they were a working girl.

My only fear about gov. intervention is that sometimes the cure--foster care--is as bad or worse than the disease. Children put into foster care have a pretty bad track record as far as turning out successful. You're taking an already troubled, vulnerable child and ripping away what ever bit of structure and affectiion, however bad or twisted, and putting them in the company of total strangers. So, I do have sympathy with the social workers who try to keep families together because they know that foster care isn't much of an answer....

It just feels to me, that for whatever reason, everybody seems to get it wrong most of the time. The cases where there are crystal clear signs of major abuse [Nizmarie, the girl in NYC], nothing happens. Other times, when we're talking about nasty neighbors or flawed paperwork...full investigations are ordered. Same with sex offenders. The real crazies keep getting released or paroled or acquitted or sent to jail for 3 or 4 years and we're spending more and more time putting the teacher in jail who had an affair with his/her 15 year old student....again, not that I condone teachers having sex with children, but I draw a very BRIGHT line between consensual but illegal sex with a teenager and sex that is forced and unwanted.


Yep, there's no perfect answer. Foster care can be a horror & frankly, it's just NOT cost effective to institute plans that might make a difference in saving families.

I agree, we must be careful about going overboard adding the 'wrong' people to a SO list. That will only overwork a system that is already terribly broken AND it dilutes the very purpose of having a SO list.

We just seem to be losing our good judgment these days.... we fight gun violence & end up expelling 7 years olds if they draw a picture of a gun. We fight sexual abuse & end up calling a teen boy a SO if he has sex with his own girlfriend.

Crazy world. :confused:

[Starr58]

In the grand scheme of things Denise should NEVER have brought a SO into her home. That right there is a punishable offense in my book. She set her young daughter up. I do not care to hear her excuses he's a changed man. he loves us. he'd never harm anyone...
he already did... more than once.
As for AR no daughter should have been in that position in the first place. First sign of trouble you don't confront the child, you go outside the home for help. If she didn't and stayed with him then she's just as responsible as he is.

The Vermont Dept. of Corrections assured Denise and Brooke that Jacques has successfully completed the Sex Offender Program . They also Allowed Jacques to reside in a home with children while on probration!!

[Starr58]

And what are the chances that AR ever told Denise that MJ touched her? So many young children are afraid to tell.

And by the time she was a teenager & Denise saw signs that made her wonder, I'm sure AR swore up & down that her mother was wrong & that MJ would never touch her. And probably called her mother disgusting & crazy for even thinking he would do something like that.

According to the affadavitt Denise found evidence of MJ & AR having sexual encounters. With that evidence I would not be wondering

[Medea]

The Vermont Dept. of Corrections assured Denise and Brooke that Jacques has successfully completed the Sex Offender Program . They also Allowed Jacques to reside in a home with children while on probration!!

Sorry, the fault lies with Denice and nobody else. She knew for a fact that Jacques pled guilty to aggravated rape and kidnapping. I wouldn't need the government to tell me that this man was not husband material, whether or not he completed any sex offender treatment, and should certainly not be allowed around any female children. She also most probably knew, having all lived in the same area, of his earlier sex charge of molesting his younger relative....

I mean, what did she think? The guy's just unlucky and keeps getting accused of sex crimes by lying females?

It is bad enough when women ignore the warning signs or don't believe their own children, when you marry a known sex offender with one conviction and another arrest for sex crimes then that is on you, not the state.

[Starr58]

Sorry, the fault lies with Denice and nobody else. She knew for a fact that Jacques pled guilty to aggravated rape and kidnapping. I wouldn't need the government to tell me that this man was not husband material, whether or not he completed any sex offender treatment, and should certainly not be allowed around any female children. She also most probably knew, having all lived in the same area, of his earlier sex charge of molesting his younger relative....

I mean, what did she think? The guy's just unlucky and keeps getting accused of sex crimes by lying females?

It is bad enough when women ignore the warning signs or don't believe their own children, when you marry a known sex offender with one conviction and another arrest for sex crimes then that is on you, not the state.

as there is more than one solution to a problem, there are usually many many people involved in NOT protecting a child. The state is just one of many that failed to protect in this case.

[becca]

Sorry, the fault lies with Denice and nobody else. She knew for a fact that Jacques pled guilty to aggravated rape and kidnapping. I wouldn't need the government to tell me that this man was not husband material, whether or not he completed any sex offender treatment, and should certainly not be allowed around any female children. She also most probably knew, having all lived in the same area, of his earlier sex charge of molesting his younger relative....

I mean, what did she think? The guy's just unlucky and keeps getting accused of sex crimes by lying females?

It is bad enough when women ignore the warning signs or don't believe their own children, when you marry a known sex offender with one conviction and another arrest for sex crimes then that is on you, not the state.

She had a choice and made a bad one that children are paying for. She knew what he was.... is she not aware that these guys do not change? Stupidity is not a defense.
I don't care if the state says he's cured... since its not a disease how can it be cured? Its a mental defect. It never gets fixed.

[Medea]

as there is more than one solution to a problem, there are usually many many people involved in NOT protecting a child. The state is just one of many that failed to protect in this case.

Yes and no. When 'everybody' is accountable the usual result is that nobody is accountable.

The original sentencing judge is accountable for suspending all but 6 years of Jacques sentence on a crime like aggravated and rape and kidnapping.

The probation officer is accountable for having been 100% snowed by Jacques and touting him as a success.

The judge who vacated his probation is responsible for ending his probation, but to be fair, this is what the Dept. of Corrections told her and his probation wasn't stopping him from molesting AR anyway.

Denise is accountable for staying with a convicted rapist.

In the scheme of things if we are talking about protecting AR from a sexual predator, then I have to put 90% of the responsibility on Denise. Protecting her daughter is her primary responsibility. Having a twice accused, once convicted rapist in the house with your daughters is no different than playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun.

[bdmama]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8706350

This is absolutely horrible! The man admits to molesting over 100 kids and only gets 10 years.....Way to go Vermont :(

[Starr58]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8710539

Montpelier, Vermont - July 21, 2008

Gov. Jim Douglas says he will not call a special legislative session to look at sex offender laws after legislative leaders refused to agree to his package of laws.

Douglas, R-Vermont, met Monday afternoon with Gaye Symington, D-Vt. House Speaker, Sen. Peter Shumlin, D-President Pro Tem, and a handful of legislative leaders in a closed-door session.

Douglas wants lawmakers to agree to a three-part package of civil confinement, an enhanced sex offender registry, and Jessica's law, before he calls a special session. But lawmakers say there needs to be a broader look into what went wrong in the case of Brooke Bennett's alleged abductor before they rush into passing new laws.

[Starr58]

Chittenden County, Vermont - July 21, 2008

Chittenden County authorities are looking for 21 convicted sex offenders.

Police say the annual check of the county's 307 registered sex offenders revealed that 26 have moved without notifying the registry as required by law. Five have already been found and arrested. Police are getting warrants to go after the others.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8710454

[fran]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8706350

This is absolutely horrible! The man admits to molesting over 100 kids and only gets 10 years.....Way to go Vermont :(

I've read that the majority of child molesters, at the time of arrest, have usually already had as many as 100 victims.

I also read, that only about 10% of child molesters get away without being caught. But this 10% does the majority of the damage, ie meaning more victims etc.

Sad, but true.

FWIW
fran

[SuperDave]

Folks, may I say something?

This terrible crime took place in a state I've been proud to call home for my entire life. And every time something like this happens, we become a laughing stock, and I'm sick of it! I'm sick of our do-nothing politicians.

Well, I'm sick of being sick of it! Someone's got to light a fire under them, and I'm just the man to do it.

[Starr58]

Folks, may I say something?

This terrible crime took place in a state I've been proud to call home for my entire life. And every time something like this happens, we become a laughing stock, and I'm sick of it! I'm sick of our do-nothing politicians.

Well, I'm sick of being sick of it! S