In Anaheim, California inside a white house with avocado green trim with palm trees out front, live 6 registered sex offenders. In this neighborhood alone, more than 14 are registered all told and needless to say, those who live here are non too happy about it and have held large community meetings expressing their outrage. These same people are also strongly supporting new legislation in California named for murdered San Diego area teenager Chelsea King.
If passed, Chelsea’s Law would require life prison sentences for violent child predators and lifetime GPS monitoring for less serious offenders. Chelsea King’s father says, “If our laws were smarter and bolder, Chelsea might still be here…” and he has vowed to protect children in the name of his murdered daughter. Kelly King, Chelsea’s mother adds, “I promise to do all I can to protect other daughters and other mothers from this incomprehensible nightmare I am walking through.”
Republican Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher says he will introduce the bill and thinks its passage is imperative because it would improve on the existing laws, plus explore the use of new and better technologies. Some argue we already have enough laws on the books, some not as effective as you might think. Consider right now we have Amber Alerts, Jessica’s Law, Megan’s Law and the Adam Walsh Act…all statutes named for young victim’s of violent crime.
The California Sex Offender Management Board says many of these laws have little effect on whether a predator strikes again. It cites laws that bar these criminals from living near schools, parks or anywhere children congregate…yet that hasn’t stopped many sexual predators from doing just that. In fact, thousands have failed to register with law enforcement as required by law and John Gardner, accused of killing Chelsea King, was registered about two hours from his mother’s house and the park where Chelsea was murdered.
Jack Wallace from the Sexual Offender Management Board says, “I’m not sure whether we need more laws in California. I think that what we need in California is that we need better communication and better cooperation between different agency and different parts of the community and criminal justice system.”
Really it all comes down to resources here in California, a state with serious money problems. There aren’t enough prison beds, there isn’t enough money for hi-tech equipment and the fact is….we don’t have enough parole agents when you consider most have 70-100 cases/criminals to follow.
What do you think? What are your solutions?