Where should sex offenders live?

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04/23/2007

Tampa, Florida - Judy Cornett's says her son was molested, and she wants a tighter leash on sex offenders. Following the death of Jessica Lunsford and the arrest of John Couey several local governments increased the barriers where sexual predators can be and live. Cornett says the child molesters and the pedophiles need to have as many restrictions as possible to save our children.

However, the State has a different view. The Secretary of the Department of Corrections says sexual predators have right to live somewhere. He adds while local governments are trying to protect the most vulnerable people by adding further restrictions where the sexual predators live, it actually makes it harder to keep track of them.

The Regional Director of the Department of Corrections, Cliff Rowan says no one is being soft on them, but they have to stay somewhere otherwise they will disappear.

Rowan says it is already happening. Just look at the Department of Corrections sexual predator web site and see how many are listed as absconded, meaning no one knows where they are.

And then there is the situation in South Florida where this probation officer is checking sexual offenders who are forced to live under a bridge because restrictions makes it impossible for them to live anywhere. State Senator Dave Aronberg says it doesn't make sense. Aronberg they are desperate, they are angry and they hang out with other sexual predators and feed on each others anger. Aronberg says he doesn't see how this helps public safety.

And as things get worse expect more of them to disappear. But as sexual predators continue to prey on children and continue to be arrested as they were in a Polk county sting earlier this month, victims and their parents continue to push for more restrictions.