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TJP
May-23-2011 22:58
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On the Money Trail With Oregon's Latest Sex Offender Bill
Tim King Salem-News.comThis story begs the question: why would the state suddenly seek to broaden the list by including all sex offenders, rather than those who are predatory?
 Courtesy: reapinfo.org |
(SALEM, Ore.) - The sponsor of new proposed legislation that would require all sex offenders to become part of a government registry, State Representative Kim Thatcher (R) Keizer, recently brought forth a significant bill to increase state government transparency.
 State Rep. Kim Thatcher |
Logically, she would understand our quest to follow the money trail behind SB 67 and HR 2765; proposals which would disrupt the lives of any person ever convicted of a sex offense, regardless of how minor, by forcing their names onto yet another taxpayer funded public computer registry.
First, I must say that I have yet to hear of a child surviving a sexual molestation because their parents spotted a would-be convicted sex offender in a mandated state computer registry. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, or that we would even necessarily know, what I am saying however that we are a bit low on success stories stemming from Oregon's mandatory sex offender registry.
We do however know many stories of police and state authorities not fully investigating claims of sex abuse; we know the state Dept of Human Services will place children with known sex offenders; I don't see what the government can gain in terms of public safety by helping one or two people in the 'background investigation' business spike their incomes.
This story begs the question: why would the state suddenly seek to broaden the list by including all sex offenders, rather than those who are predatory?
I don't personally care if my neighbor got drunk and went streaking during a college party, do you? I don't care about minor adjudicated offenses being resurrected for the sake of further invading privacy. I don't care if Joey screwed Sally and she was 17 and he was 19, I don't think very many people care. However I know there are tens of thousands of sex offender families who would appreciate their names not being drug through the mud with legislation that sounds good at face value, but in fact faces several obstacles, including privacy issues from HUD (Housing and Urban Development)
Again, back to that money trail with Rep. Thatcher. Drop in the toll, here we go.
Vroooom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the money trail; the super information highway, where you are about to meet Dan Meister...
Rep Thatcher said she sponsored HB 2765 on behalf of Daniel Meister. Mr. Meister testified before the Senate Judiciary in support of SB 67. This is noteworthy, because Meister runs a private business called Pacific Screening, Inc., providing--for a membership fee-- background checks/screenings for various organizations (apartment communities and public housing the biggies but also churches, businesses large and small, non-profits, schools, and private citizens.)
It would appear that Mr. Meister is pushing this legislation in the interest of private profit. (Pacific Screening employees 5-9 people and posts an annual revenue of $500k-$1 million.)
In support of Senate Bill 67 he wrote (unedited):
"It is critical that the Oregon State Police be allowed the release the unrestricted names of sex offenders registered in Oregon."Organizations such as apartment communities, public housing agencies, churches, businesses large and small, non-profit groups, schools and private citizens rely on the Oregon State Police information.
"They rely on this information to be correct, up to date and complete. Organizations are basing rental decisions, employment decisions and volunteer decisions on this information... unfortunately, this information is not complete. The current Oregon Sex Offender Web sites does not contain the a majority of sex offenders currently living in the state."
- Daniel Meister, Pacific Screening Inc. 'Quality Applicant Research Services'
I would deem 'critical' the pending result of any such legislation. I would also note that there is a good reason that people aren't listed; because they served their time, made restitution, and moved on. Dragging skeletons out of closets is bad business. There are things called 'rights' that perhaps are being overlooked.
I can only imagine how difficult life must be for those who become a 'sex offender' and then manage to regain control of their lives; to assume their place in society with jobs and responsibilities, only to suddenly be re-exposed for a crime they have already paid their dues for, in a quirky double jeopardy framework, under Thatcher and Meister's sex background microscope law.
People who offend children are already on the list, and they don't come off. This is needless big government control at its finest, cleverly using political law to raise the incomes of a limited few while stripping and further eroding the rights of Oregonians.
I have a close friend who is a sex offender because he and his fiance were petting too heavily in a parked car at Bush Park in Salem. They have been married for years, have children, but that event is still on his record, and this would force my friend into a bizarre place that would utterly misrepresent him.
It's also worth noting that Meister's testimonial letter ends with broad, unsubstantiated claims and resorts to fear tactics in order to justify this legislation as being of emergency interest to the state:
In my biggest customer group, the apartment communities, are missing sex offenders every day. Not every sex offender we screen has a county criminal record (OJIN), but they are listed as a sex offender with the state. We just can not get the information. The law needs to change. If offenders are left off the sex offender list, we can not do a complete criminal search. At this time, the current Oregon Sex Offender Web sites does not contain the majority of sex offenders currently living in the state.- Daniel Meister, 'Pacific Screening Inc. Quality Applicant Research Services'
I don't envy Thatcher or others in her shoes, nor do I doubt that she has the better interests of voters at heart. I really liked her transparency bill. Oregon's legislators carry a heavy load and they are tasked with mountainous responsibility. Knowing that to be the case, it is easy to understand how ideas presented to legislators that are well greased and presented with passion, are easy to be tricked by. To me the victim list expands when these things happen to include the legislators themselves. People like Thatcher know that it is important for all Oregonians to have a roof over their heads, and this bill would lead to past offenders losing jobs and housing and being tossed onto the streets. That will raise the danger level, not lower it.
Chasing Sex Offenders
I have some time with this subject, having spent the past 23 years in news. Before that, when I was a U.S. Marine on guard (barracks) duty, I caught a man, another Marine, who had allegedly tried to rape a young civilian woman visiting the base on a Saturday night. I pulled the guy out of a car and pinned him down in a phone booth as I called the MP's. I'm as serious as anyone about protecting the virtue of my fellow citizens.
Still, I have learned a great deal over the years and it isn't all about catching bad guys, however vividly those moments stand out.
My most memorable event was chasing the man known as 'Polk County's Most Notorious Sex Offender' Larry Lee Edwards, down the street as a camera man with KATU Channel-2 News with my 30+ pound TV camera and actually catching him, and making him talk. I was really proud of myself, but my ultimate lesson about Edwards, and all sex offenders, is that they are people too, regardless of how they may disgust us.
I met his father and interviewed him at the time, and the senior Mr. Edwards told me about how his son was in the Navy; how he had traveled the world and accomplished a great deal, but then suffered a long-term relationship break up that ruined him emotionally, and ultimately he responded by raping two young boys in the Dallas area.
When I chased Edwards down the street that day, he had just been released from 14 years in prison, and he had no place to live, so he was staying in an abandoned field in Dallas. This to me is the reality of further juxtaposing human beings based on their individual records. Guys like Larry Lee Edwards are potentially dangerous, their crimes were hugely significant, and they will always easily and quickly be found on a registry. But that guy who streaked down the road at a drunken frat party is who this legislation would float to the front and there is no need for this when taxpayer revenues are already strained and the authorities themselves are failing in their roles.
Instead let's clean up shop, hold cops and social workers accountable, and not waste taxpayer funds wrecking the lives of those who have paid their dues, done their time.
If this measure in enacted it would place approx 18,000 people on the registry. It passed the Senate 30-0 and has moved to the House.
One person who contacted Salem-News.com but preferred to not use their name, made another strong point, that is the way a reckless law like this would in fact endanger the families of sex offenders who are leading legal productive lives. These people are as innocent as anyone and equally significant.
The proposed Senate bill moved quickly at first but the legislation has slowed, as legislators agreed to move it to a work session, the next work session is set for tomorrow, Tuesday, 24 May 2011, at the capital, 1:00 p.m. in Room 343.
_________________________________________________________
Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer
Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.
Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.
Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
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Clinton Morse Watson May 23, 2012 12:27 pm (Pacific time)
In 1995 I pled no contest to a charge of "unlawful sexual penetration w/a foreign object".
Originally I was charged w/eight felonies the worst being sodomy one which I knew I had not committed. In fact I committed 1st degree assault as I did beat a homosexual male and made some drunken attempt to stick a beer bottle in his rear. Basically something that would've passed for comedy in the movies. But in light of my very substantial criminal history, the D.A. would agree to no plea that did not include a sex offense. I had to take the deal because I was subject to spend the rest of life in prison if I didn't accept. The bargain was that I plead n.c. to sex pen.1 and do 10 calendars w/out chance of early release. I of course, took it plus twenty years post-prison supervision.
Yes it was a violent crime as were the multiple robberies I've committed through the years prior.But I am not a "sex preditor". I was hatefilled toward homosexuals and others whom I considered freaks. You could say I was a "skinhead" with a neo-nazi political agenda. But, it'd probably be more to the point to say; I was just a drunken redneck w/attitude.
I got out of prison in 2005. I'm on the national sexual preditor register and totally unemployable. I don't even get the chance to speak about what really happened and that I have never committed any sex crime before or after the plea bargain and prison sentence of 1995-2005.
Editor: Your story does a great deal of perspective, thanks for sharing.
VietnamVet'70 May 25, 2011 9:38 am (Pacific time)
Being a veteran, you and I both took an oath to defend the Constitution of The United States.
Mr. King - my son has been on a sex offender registry from the age of 16, when a younger cousin claimed he raped her in order to attend a party.
No evidence was offered or necessary - in fact it was rape shielded an inadmissible. He was convicted on "Children don't lie", and "Who are they gonna believe? YOU? Or that pooooooooor little girl??"
Having been put through "The System" I know each and every one of us is just one false accustion away from being on a sex offender registry. Unless you are extremely wealthy enough to afford "Justice" that is exactly where you will find yourself.
Many people believe it's OK to punish the innocent in order to "save victims", but I have yet to see any of those true believers volunteering for such injustice themselves.
Anonymous May 24, 2011 6:20 pm (Pacific time)
King with your attitude, why not run for office? Evidently you think everyone is ill informed compared to you, why not give it a go? I imagine you would have the same success getting elected as Coleman did snowing a jury,or you would getting hired as a reporter at any legitimate journalistic organization.
Tim King's past employers: FOX-12 Portland, (Afghanistan coverage), KATU Channel-2 (ABC) Portland, (Assignment Editor) (Photojournalist/Reporter) KVVU FOX-5, Las Vegas, (Photojournalist/Reporter) (Assignment Editor) KVBC News 3, (NBC) Las Vegas, (Photojournalist/Reporter) KTIL Radio Tillamook, Oregon (Disc Jockey) KLYC AM 1260 McMinnville, Oregon (News Director) KBCH/KCRF AM/FM Lincoln City, Oregon (News Director) (Disc Jockey). It actually goes on, and I only do this for the record, because I have no idea where else you you may be writing this slanderous trash. But it is funny, you give me a chance to at least put it into perspective.
Maybe it's time to face reality kid, and that is you are simply a 4th rate nothing.
Tim King: Sorry it makes you so mad that we carry news that is contrary to your belief system. Believe it or not I think this is the most well intended news organization on the face of the earth. The agendas are simple; humanity, decency, respect, these are our goals in the long run. Before we reach our goals we must never flex from the basic principle. as defined by our great friend Ken O'Keefe, the definitive world citizen, and that is 'Truth, Justice Peace'. It is an essential order. Again, sorry to drag you out of your comfort zone, hopefully you will be OK. Sorry you feel the need to insult me the way you do, it sort of makes me feel sorry for you. And finally, regarding the Coleman comment, you are really bad for that. William Coleman has become one of my absolute best friends for life and he represents something so pure and straightforward that people absolutely can't even grasp it. Prejudice, bigotry, fear, these are the motivators that have pushed people to try to hurt him but he is a survivor's survivor. The man was framed and defeated the charges, and because the dirty lawyers with the state implied that William was indeed guilty when in fact he was found unanimously not guilty by a jury, that means the state violated his due process and his constitutional right against Double Jeopardy was violated. Mr. Coleman's fight is far from over, no matter how many people are working from within the web of corruption that caused his problems in the first place.
Truth & Justice May 24, 2011 5:10 pm (Pacific time)
Dan out of all the RSO's you screen for your clients, do you provide whether they are Predatory or possibly even low risk? Do you tell your clients that some of the RSO's pose no threat to people or children? Hopefully in the future as you provide your service to your clients you will provided a more thourough report so some people wont lose potential jobs or housing.
Anonymous May 24, 2011 5:05 pm (Pacific time)
SB 67 is Dead!!!
Anonymous May 24, 2011 3:40 pm (Pacific time)
In response to previous comments made by Dan:
Dan said: “The Federal government and the state law are in conflict, did you mention that in your article?” --If you are referring to the Adam Walsh Act then you are referring to the ever more persecution-oriented federal Sex Offender Registry (SOR) laws that judge a former sex offender on the crime committed as if it were yesterday and regardless of who that person is today (even after many years or decades) and it mandates that Former Sex Offenders (FSOs) be kept on public registries for longer periods of time than minimum times as specified in the ORS (if not indefinitely).
Dan said: “My goal is to allow the public to know who is a registered sex offender in Oregon...the current law does not allow first time offenders or offenders on parole to be listed publicly. Is that right?” -- Yes, but the question is why do we continue to have these sex offender “humiliation” laws in the first place? Your assumption probably circles around the myth that FSOs have high re-offense rates, right? The truth is that FSOs have LOW recidivism rates – so why the need to punish them for a second time after the serving the original punishment? And why on earth are we “legislating” punishments anyway – isn’t that the job of our Oregon court system?
Dan said: “Do employers, apartments or daycare schools have a right to know who is working in their business or schools?” --Yes and no – it all depends on what a professional in the field of sex abuse says about a person’s likelihood of re-offending. Protecting children and the public at large from future sex crimes is important but so is protecting the rights of those who will not re-offend in the future. If certain sex offenders are deemed likely to re-offend then laws should allow law enforcement to intervene and stop those certain relationships. Those who commit new sex crimes should be held fully accountable. But on the other side of the coin, former sex offenders need to be able to acquire housing, employment and education opportunities that are free from government regulatory oversight. The vast majority of those on the Oregon sex offender registry need to be successfully reintegrated into society in all normal ways of living. Tagging former offenders with a Scarlett Letter (“Registered Sex Offender”) leads to discrimination, vigilantism, isolation, depression, and financial hardships of every kind. Landlords and business owners have shown that they are grossly misinformed on the facts and thus are irresponsible in their denying former offenders the right to live or work among the rest of us. Let us work to successfully integrate all former criminals into society without discrimination.
Dan said: “… Let me be clear....these are not all persons ‘who have paid their debts to society.’ These sex offenders are currently on parole OR are first time offenders that you are prohibited to know about.” --In reality, the sex offender registration laws are NOT about public safety but instead are a knee-jerk response to public concerns about a grotesque fiction: “sex offenders living among are likely to commit a new sex crime” when the truth is the opposite. And anyway, the FBI statistics show us that most new sex crimes are committed by people known to the victim and are not former sex offenders anyway. So why do we put so much attention on the need to re-punishing these people in the first place? I do not get that.
Dan said: “Your article did not mention the State Police wanted this law changed. They sponsored SB 67. Why didn't you quote them?” --The OSP is known for its own political efforts as much as it is a government agency to provide public safety. The fact is that Oregon’s “tough on crime” warriors (career politicians, for profit “TV-News” (sic), law enforcement lobbyists, victims-rights advocates, etc.) must inflate the worries about public safety in order to continue receiving sound funding, ratings, and profits. Also, Oregon’s sex offender registration laws require that former sex offender registrants pay $70 per year – and think about this, that is an annual budget of over one million dollars (18,000 x $70) in revenue to maintain a website with sex offender photos, addresses and crime information. Perhaps we should pay more attention to the money trail. All in all, it is the former sex offender who is acting as a good citizen that suffers under these Draconian laws and at the same time it is he that must pay for this “privilege” to be publicly humiliated over and over again. Where is the justice?
Oh, and yes, one more thing: Nobody has addressed the suffering that the family members of former sex offenders suffer the same humiliation, isolation, discrimination and financial hardships that the sex offender registry laws that are intended for former offenders. The wives and children of former offenders do not deserve to be punished and as such, they have become the new victims of these politically motivated, fact-less, and unconstitutional laws.
Good questions Dan. We need more public discussions on topics like this.
May 24, 2011 2:48 pm (Pacific time)
Given what I wrote earlier about the 19 year old man raping the 12-year old that was covered up by the boys in blue: I don't know if ruining the man's life is the reasonable course of action or not. It was a wrong action and destroyed the little girl's innocence. But should the man have to, for LIFE, be on a public list relating to an event when he was 19? One part of me says "Hell Yes!" But a more compassionate part of me wants to believe that we all grow up and, had be been properly punished, perhaps he would be a different person now. As it is, I presume that he still likes little girls because he probably has never had any ramifications for his actions and likely doesn't want to admit that he was wrong. Should the Salem Police Department also have to be on the list due to the intentional cover up of the crime?
Dan Johnson May 24, 2011 2:59 pm (Pacific time)
Dan the reason King did not do any further research is because he can determine the obvious.
May 24, 2011 7:51 am (Pacific time)
Off topic, but of interest to me and to other readers is that I reported the rape of a young 12-year old girl to the Salem police in the lat 1990s. Two of her friends came to me telling me what happened and that they were witnesses to the assault by her 19-year old "boy" friend at the skate park in Salem. This was an afternoon, PUBLIC rape. The police were called and they responded, but at the end of the day, their report omitted the eye-witnesses and indicated only that I had told them that I "thought" there might have been an assault. The head officer told me that he knew the young boy, so I presume he wanted to protect him from the results of his actions. When I explained to the Salem PD what was happening, they said that the officer was no longer with them, so that I should be happy he is no longer covering up crimes. Debbie Baker, the recently retired scab of an officer, went so far as to say that the young girl should not have had such an old "boy friend" if she did not want to be sexually active. THIS is they type of police force we have in Salem. A legitimate report of a Class A Felony and they treat it as if it were a stolen bicycle.
Tom Madison May 24, 2011 12:55 pm (Pacific time)
Sex Offender Registry (SOR) laws have been a public safety train wreck ever since becoming law here in Oregon. Why? SOR laws have never protected a child in the first place; SOR laws are based more on the Easter Bunny than on hard facts; SOR laws completely trash everyone's basic legal rights by attacking Registered Sex Offenders. Let's dump all SOR laws and rebuild with an eye to actually protecting kids through educating them and secondly proving for free treatment for those that seek it out. -DUMP SOR Laws in Oregon Committee
oncefallendotcom May 24, 2011 11:02 am (Pacific time)
The Big Registry, much like Big Oil and Tobacco, is filled with corruption, special interest, and misinformation. Each face on the registry also means potential federal funds. The government and special interest groups have a vested financial interest in adding more to the registry, after all. Its all about the money!
Dan May 24, 2011 10:19 am (Pacific time)
Dear Mr King, Great article, but it would have been better if you would have asked me a few questions or did some research before trying to make this bill seem bad. You stated, I am using "unsubstantiated claims and resorts to fear tactics," wow, I would have provided you a few names if you would have asked. I understand you have friends that are registered as sex offenders, but you really are one sided on this one. I am not even really sure if you understand the current law and what it does to prohibit the public from knowing who is a current sex offender....the website is only one small issue in this... I get paid to check the sex offender list in Oregon, sure. But, I don't make any more money if the sex offender information is not complete due to the law. You should check the facts about this law and exactly how I would make more money? The Federal government and the state law are in conflict, did you mention that in your article? My goal is to allow the public to know who is a registered sex offender in Oregon...the current law does not allow first time offenders or offenders on parole to be listed publicly. Is that right? Do employers, apartments or daycare schools have a right to know who is working in their business or schools? I bet your own employer does a sex offender search. Ask them, if they have a right to know. Let me be clear....these are not all persons "who have paid their debts to society." These sex offenders are currently on parole OR are first time offenders that you are prohibited to know about. Keep the website the same if you wish only listing the 700 or so names out of 18,000, but don't prohibit the public from knowing if someone is a sex offender in Oregon. Yes, this can be accomplished with a few minor changes to the current law. Your article did not mention the State Police wanted this law changed. They sponsored SB 67. Not me. Not Rep. Thatcher. Why didn't you quote them? Why didn't you ask them for the background of the proposed law. "money trail?" .... you got to be kidding. No one makes more money...these records are public. Only the state owns them. A little more investigative work would have been nice....maybe next time. best wishes, Dan
Jan Spitz May 24, 2011 10:09 am (Pacific time)
Thank you Tim! It's time for this issue to the light of day. I find the connection between this bill and Mr. Meister sadly ironic. According to experts who follow trends in sex offender registries, the most significant determinant to successful re-entry into the community is stable housing and jobs. And Mr. Meister's business is the business of depriving people of both.
Thanks May 24, 2011 8:33 am (Pacific time)
Tim, I love this story. There are so few people who look at how we can accept reformed people back into the community. As someone who has done time (drinking and driving accident - 5 years) I have experienced the system first hand. My feeling are that the entire sex offender system in Oregon is broken. Actual rapist are violent sick individuals. Stupid kids and adults with no sense of decency are perhaps deplorable, but do we really want to train them how to steal identities, team them up with career criminals, and show them how to cook meth? This is the prison story. Opening up the sex offender registry only prevents people who would otherwise have a chance to positively re-engage with society from doing so. Additionally, there is no program in Oregon to reform sex offenders. I was privileged enough to be allowed to access a prison reform program. One of the barriers to entry in such reform programs is conviction of a sex offense. There is no reform program in Oregon for sex offenders. There are only punitive programs designed to further punish them. There is therefore no protection at all against further crimes by these people, as they are not provided a single tool to allow them a means to overcome their problems.
Cheryl Kopp May 24, 2011 7:39 am (Pacific time)
Thanks for bringing this issue to the people. Senate Bill 67 is another way to financially burden Oregon. As your report shows this Bill 67 is in the best interest Daniel Meister, 'Pacific Screening Inc. Quality Applicant Research Services.' As the writer of this article stated: "Instead let's clean up shop, hold cops and social workers accountable, and not waste taxpayer funds wrecking the lives of those who have paid their dues, done their time." I will write to my representatives and encourage them to kill this bill.
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