[flu189]

True, don't believe the national news media and definately don't believe the local news either. I have experience in the field, though from another state, but have contacts here especially in probation and parole and the way we deal with sex offenders and child predators is a disgrace and outrage. By virtue of a small population which is mostly rural somewhat keeps the issue out of sight and out of mind.

[OhBeeHave]

That story was warped by the media. I kept hearing it from family in Florida; about how VT allows sex offenders to get off easily, etc. Meanwhile if I go to the familywatchdog website, FL is LOADED with offenders. Yet tiny VT is given a bad rap by the media.

[mustmove]

VT has let several sex offenders go, lots of drug dealers have walked including a part-time judge/part-time dealer. There was a case a few months ago wherein two people robbed a convenience store with an axe and they couldn't lock one of them up because he had no priors. First armed robbery is a freebie. The rehab/community service program is a joke. The only reason VT isn't worse is the small homogeneous population.

[flu189]

Nobody is claiming that Vermont has a higher rate per capita of sex offenders and yes other states have similar problems with effective adjudication. But, the shotcomings of other states is of little concern if you live here. The bottom line is that we have a problem here with recidivists and a lax judiciary. Having dealt for years with both offenders and their victims I guess I just don't have much tolerance and patience when it comes to this issue.

[OhBeeHave]

Seeing as I am not a resident, I do not have the opportunity to vote on such issues, although I would like to.
Are judges appointed or voted in?
Are there any victims rights group which have enough muscle to start a push to create a change in laws?

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by flu189

Nobody is claiming that Vermont has a higher rate per capita of sex offenders and yes other states have similar problems with effective adjudication. But, the shotcomings of other states is of little concern if you live here. The bottom line is that we have a problem here with recidivists and a lax judiciary. Having dealt for years with both offenders and their victims I guess I just don't have much tolerance and patience when it comes to this issue.

Recidivism is a problem everywhere.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

Recidivism is a problem everywhere.

Yes it is, and we still complain and wring our hands when we hear that we incarcerate soooo many people. Apparently there appears to be a good reason for this. I can honestly tell anyone that everybody that I saw through arrest and conviction in twenty years more than deserved to spend time time locked up, and then I saw way too many go through the revolving door what we called "catch and release" just end up wasting resources not to mention creating new victims. Yup, a dog chasing our tail is what we are.

[flu189]

Since the last post an afterthought. To this day I still often recall and think about cases especially concerning victims that I know were cheated by the system. Kind of funny after being retired and when I get a jury duty summons I report in as required and go through hours and hours of wasted time just to be released due to my background and experience. What says it all is when I get the meek and sheepish grin when I am told my services won't be needed.

[Asta]

Having lived in many places all over the world, I find Vermont a very pleasant and one of the most beatiful places I have ever lived. Life can be simple and peaceful if you choose for it to be that way. That said, I will also say that it is THE strangest place I have ever lived. There is a certain segment of the population in my town who make it their business to ram their eccentric and often baffling ideas down everyone else's throats, like it or not. If anyone dares to resist or disagree, they just get more vocal and inflexible. I find these people to be, in general, very intelligent, but woefully lacking in common sense and respect for common BOUNDARIES, their own as well as others'. That has been my only real source of discontent. People with an undeserved sense of entitlement, getting up in my face. IMHO.

[flu189]

Asta, excellent post concerning both the good and not so good aspects of the Vt experience. LOL, we just have a different and self gratifying version of our it's our way or the highway attitude in comparision to other places.