
One of my co-workers, who has two young daughters (under age 3 I think) has a level 3 sex offender in his neighborhood. The neighborhood is trying to get him removed from the neighborhood as a threat to the children. He's apparently living with his family.
I'm of two minds on this. I'm glad that the neigborhood gets notified of such things. But why not other criminals? Having a murderer or drug dealer in my neighborhood is something I'd want to know I think. What makes sex offenders so special? Are they more likely to be repeat offenders? And why can't this guy just be allowed to have served his time and get on with his life? I guess he lives too close to a school so they want him removed.
On the other hand, if I had kids, I wouldn't be happy knowing a sex offender is living in my area. I'd want him long gone too. I feel like a hypocrite though as it touches a fine line between personal freedoms and safety. Maybe I'd feel better if, as I stated above, all former felons in the area needed to be reported.
EDIT:
I think it's important to point out I've never been against the program of registering sex offenders. I simply question whether or not it makes me a hypocrite to be in favor of basic freedom while it is taken away from a subset of the population. Did they do something to deserve it? Damn right they did. Should it be expanded to other criminals like drug dealers, gang members, pimps and others who target, in particualr, children. Maybe, if these people are at such high risk of attacking again, they shouldn't be let out of prison or should have to live the rest of their lives under some kind of supervision.