Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Public meeting: Myths and Facts about Sex Offenders - September 2nd

24 comments:

  1. I do not doubt that this will be informative and probably clear up some misconceptions. However, I can't help but wonder...if the moderator is from the state, wouldn't he be in favor people like JG, and placing sex criminals in small places away from larger cities?
    Yes, I'm planning on attending if I can that night.

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  2. This is quite sad that this meeting is being held in the middle of the day when most people work and cannot attend. I'm pretty sure that this happened for a reason and even more certain that JG is handling this forum so that many CAN'T attend. Thats dishearting!

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  3. Greenville IS a small place away from larger cities, just sayin'.

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  4. At this meeting, we wil hear that the recdivism rate for sex offenders is very low.

    Problem #1 - recidivism is measured by future criminal charges/convictions. But often the recidivism occurs and is not reported and/or can not be prosecuted for whatever reason. A lot of these sex offenders, having already been caught once, are now much better at not getting caught. So without knowing how many unreported incidents there are, you will never have accurate statistics on recidivism.

    Problem #2 - Even if the recidivism rate is really, truly 5%, then that's STILL 5% more risk than if you lived next to a non-sex-offender. No matter how you cut it, it's way more dangerous - even if it's only 5%, which probably isn't the accurate number, and still understates the risk when you put 4, 5, or 6 of these guys under the same roof.

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  5. Dont matter what This guy has to say, I hope no one attends, and you can bet John Graham is right behind all of it . He has to get more people to support it and will do everything he can to accomplish that, His business depends on it! David Berenson is going to tell you that this is a good thing, Its his Job! He helps bring them here!

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  6. I don't think anyone should judge it ahead of time. Go and listen.

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  7. Most of us work so we cant go and listen , With everything that has gone on since all this started 8 years ago, Its easy to judge ahead of time!

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  8. There are some very good points here. However the fight for all of this is once again, 5 homes scattered in a two block area in the middle of a residence neighborhood, on the outskirts of the 1000 ft perimeter of east school. The housing values that have dropped way before the economy tanked. And the fact that this has all become a business now.
    We are taking care of other counties problems and burdening our own local agencies and monies.
    Where has Mr.JG been since he first told the public that there would only be felons and not SO's. He was very quite up until the last couple months only now to defend his business. Was he honest with all of you in the past?
    This isnt about the SO's and there recidivism rates. You can research all over the place and get the rates that look the best according to your plight. Bottom line, are all of you willing to live and own a home in the area where all of these homes are now established? Better yet, are you willing to buy a home and put your children in it? or is it that you are not so concerned because its in somebody elses backyard.
    Dont get caught up in the statistical information that they want you to hear. He wants these homes to continue. Remember that.
    Dont forget the Fitzpatrick Homeless shelter that he runs was now found to be inside the 1000 ft perimeter of east school, and that he has housed SO's within that particular house in the recent past months.
    Also, where has our law enforcement been when he has violated various laws?
    Has JG told you all of all these things?
    Did he tell you about the parole violations in the last two months from his SO's?
    No he did not.
    Do your research people, Dont judge people but I think you can all tell an apple from a pear.

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  9. Some of us has jobs that require us to work 8hrs a day and not have the luxury to make our own hrs. Poor time to have arranged such a meeting since it is such an important meeting

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  10. 9:26 you are so right - I said this last week: We have to work unlike John Graham that can sit on his front porch in his rocking chair and make money!

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  11. If Greenville loses the sex offender faciltities then David Berenson will have to find another community to house the sex offenders. How many communities will be willing to take on this responsibility?
    Darke County does not have the jobs or resources to actually help incoming criminals including sex offenders.
    Why was this date and time pick for a important meeting when people who are lucky to have jobs cannot go? Also does Mr. Berenson live by a facility that houses criminals including sex offeners?

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  12. We the people who donate to the churches which donate to Dr.JG.He gets money from us and the goverment.The perfect Con...

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  13. This is what I don't understand about the city of Greenville. Would Versailles or St. Henry allow this to happen in the city? Do we choose to bury our head in the sand and allow things in our city that hurts the image of the city or worse possibly children? What would we do if there was a poisonous snakes running amidst the city, would we take on the same perspective that maybe they won't bite? No, we would hunt them down and rid the city of them, because we wouldn't want to risk what "might" happen. I see this as no difference.

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  14. First, who organized this meeting? I would tend to believe that it would be “Reverend” Graham to favor his position alone. Secondly, I would believe that the time and date are designed to minimize any citizen participation as it has been stated by others who have to work during the day and evenings, just like the County Commissioners meetings. You never know what they’re going to do and that in itself is an entire different story. And lastly, groups like the C4C are standing up for their citizen and community rights and yet the group is being deemed as the radical activist group. It was my conviction that we need to stand up for what we believe in and hold those accountable for their actions (mainly government). Don’t be put aside for defending your civil liberties.

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  15. I too have to work and can't go to the meeting. Is there someone out there, that can go to ask the hard questions. These are the same people Mr.Graham brought to the City Council meeting ,when the local neighbors protested the Ludlow house.They are great talkers. I have been fighting this from the beginning. Thank you citizens4change!!! Please go to the meeting if you can and fight for the safety and future of our town!!Show up at the City Council meetings to protest!!! Everyone needs to get involved and get your voice heard!! So far it's only been Mr. Grahams voice! Let's put a stop to that!!!

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  16. Good dialog Susan 7:13, this is where it is at, the citizens showing up for council meetings, C4C meetings, and ad hoc meetings, which they do not have to even speak at, just show up and show your support, the numbers alone make our officials stand up and take notice and it makes them be held accountable becasue you are watching them, believe me they are taking note when a C4C meeting happens and there are 100+ people there.
    You have the right so please all of you use it, we can and will make what ever is neccessary happen, its in your court.

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  17. I have no idea what 88 meant by "...don't get caught up in the statistical information they want you to hear...". What should we base our decisions on; emotion, myths?? Most reasonable people employ some degree of critical thinking in their daily decision making whether it be investing, fantasy-teams, car buying, medical procedures etc., and ultimately base their decision on the objective-evidence. Not sure why this is so different.

    Anonymous made mention that this moderator lives far away from any sex offender housing. David Berenson is likely from Columbus and I'll bet a penny to a peanut they have sex offender housing...along with many 'regular' halfway houses. Couple that with the fact the Columbus economy is relatively stable and your argument [that business will not come because of sex offenders] shrivels on the vine.

    All this energy and vitriol for 4 sex offender beds?? With close to 20,000 on the Ohio registry it just doesn't seem [to me] like much bang-for-the-buck. Maybe if Ohio ammended some of their draconian, feel-good, non-sensical sex/registration laws the attorney general, department of corrections, prosecutors, sheriffs and local police would not being chasing their collective tails trying to oversee this population all while spending 10's of millions of dollars a year.... Or leagalize pot, prostitution and gambling then use the revenue to keep enforcing this silliness.

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  18. Our tax dollars pay David Berenson's salary so why isn't he available to speak to all tax payers? Since alot of taxpayers work the day shift, why not schedule two meetings, AM and PM, to make the meeting available to most everyone?

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  19. dr john graham why dont you invite some of the kids and there parents. that your sex offenders mollested and listen to there side. how there child life has been destoryed by your sex offenders.there should not be one person trying to be playing god with these sex offenders

    thank you craig francis

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  20. anon 1204:

    I won't speak for 88, but i took it to mean (as he later clarified in his post), that both sides can find statistics from various sources that lend credence to both sides of this debate. Statistics can only go so far. Does this mean we should base our decisions on emotion? No. It means to take a survey of the entire spectrum, rather than rely on one source as authoritative, especially when that source as an interest in having the argument go a specific way.

    Also, this argument is not over 4 beds. The argument has erupted as a reaction to the business practices of Good Samaritan. This business collectively owns 5 properties in a very small radius. While one home (4 beds) may exist in the half way house type scenario, all (or most) of these properties have housed multiple sex offenders at a time until the recent public pressure was applied.

    If the public does not react and say "enough," Good Samaritan Homes has exhibited the behavior that it will continue to expand, buying properties because they are "cheap," fixing them up with donated money, making a profit off of them by importing SOs and other ex-cons from all over the state, all the while draining the property value and residency appeal of the neighborhood it "relies" on. When does it end?

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  21. Anon 12:04
    Thanks Kurt for your response.
    Not much more to say after that except, please do your research, you will see that the public has been misled for along time, I guess a man from the ministry should continue to be forgiven for that, but are you willing to look back 5 years from now and realize that JG has 10-15 homes around this town, maybe along side of you some day, will you be the one coming on board then and asking what can we do?
    Or are we all willing to sit back and wait to see Greenville on the news for the one despicable crime we all are trying to keep in check.

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  22. First section 8 housing to bring in all the deadbeets around into the city and not housing for sex offenders.....sounds like your city officials are doing a swell job

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  23. Romans 12:18-21 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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  24. Why does Mr. Graham and his followers feel like they must push this down the Greenville citizens throats? These offenders have just served time behind bars for one of the worst of crimes. A jail cell DOES NOT change the heart. Of course there is fear in our community. Men, women and children are left suffering for the crimes committed against them, sometimes for life. We the people DO need to know exactly who is for this and we DO need to know this before election time. Personally, I don't think it is because of their great love of the offenders... What about the suffering of the offended. We should protect them as well a keeping others from getting hurt. Thanks for letting me comment since I can't be at the indoctrination meeing.

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