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POLL: Should Charlotte Leaders Ban Sex Offenders from Parks?
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James would like to introduce a law that would make it illegal for registered sex offenders to go to any Mecklenburg County park and recreation center.
The following sex offenders are classified as a recidivist or they committed an aggravated sex offense:
* Link: NC Sex Offender Registry
Topic:
Sex Offender
18 Comments:
We don't have a sex offender in parks problem. We have a convicted felon robber problem, we have a crackhead burglary problem and an illegal immigrant problem. Get your priorities straight.
How do you know we don't have a problem with sex offenders in parks? I've seen some creepy men in our parks.
As a mother, I'd feel better knowing they aren't allowed in.
The (Idea) of banning sex offenders from parks is a noble one. The reality is there is no one who could enforce it.
CMPD does not have the resources to patrol parks daily by the hour.
Park and Rec’s Park Watch has no enforcement powers. Off duty Officers would only cover the major park areas and even then only if an Officer signs up to do the work.
The FBI in past studies indicated that “parks” in general are more likely to have crime and be dangerous areas for the public to be in and for Officers to patrol. The reasons are due to the large secluded areas, the numerous ways in and out of a park and a reduced sense of awareness on the part of park patrons.
What is needed is a dedicated park police or rangers, who would patrol the parks on a regular basis enforcing the law, making arrests being seen by park patrons and the criminal element alike.
This would take time but soon there would be an expectation by criminals that law enforcement is in the park on a regular basis. No criminal wants to linger where they know law enforcement is likely to show up at any moment.
The ironic thing is that Mecklenburg County did have park rangers but disbanded the department in the middle 90’s. The claim was (as I recall) that there wasn’t enough (crime) in the park’s to warrant the expense of park rangers. The budget for the park rangers was around 700 thousand a year. After the department was disbanded Park and Rec asked CMPD if they would start a parks unit. The answer was yes, for around 6 million (1990s) dollars.
Now I must point out that was under a different Park and Rec administration and County Commission.
I hope that serious thought will be given to this problem.
I can tell you from experience that parks are a favorite place for thugs to hang out and to hide and that sex offenders are only the tip of very serious and ongoing problem in many of our parks.
I have been stalked in McDowell Park by some creepy dude....
blueline, i doubt the cmpd will create any new special groups. rumor has it chief monroe is dismantling the gang squad and other groups we have at cmpd. the officers are going back to patrol.
If they don't obey the laws against rape what makes anyone think breaking another one is going to make any difference to them?
My question is why they were walking around after being convicted the first time.
Most people don’t know or recall that security in Mecklenburg County Parks is the responsibility of Mecklenburg County Government.
Under the inter-local agreement that merged the Mecklenburg County Police and the Charlotte Police departments back in the early
90’s.
The County (not) the City is responsible for security in the Parks.
All parks in Mecklenburg County are run by the County.
Park Watch was a CYA move on the part of a former Parks administration to meet this legal obligation after the Park Rangers were disbanded.
Park Watch is basically there so (Park and Recreation) could say they were practicing due-diligence, in-case someone sued them for lack of security.
As far as disbanding units inside CMPD ---- I seem to recall that happened before and it caused a jump in crime. Maybe the new Chief has a better plan.
If we had a law like Measure 11, repeat offenders would think twice ! It's passed time to deal with the same punks that do the same crimes over and over and over. It would reduce the crime rate because the same ones are doing the same crimes. They have specialized and got good at it ! The Law is on the side of the punk !!!
If these pervs were convicted of a crime stemming from the parks, it would be ideal for such a ban. But most of these cases are certainly from closer encounters with minors and not park stalked cases.... the creeps most of you see in parks are homosexuals and your occasional disgusting flasher... if the cops of charlotte would put less emphasis on speed traps and other unnecessary patrolling then we would not have to worry about these most wanted individuals and violent crimes.
While I applaud him for trying to do SOMETHING, the reality is that most sex offenses against children are committed by someone the child knows. Most molestation/rapes no longer fit the stereotype of the boogeyman jumping out from the bushes and grabbing someone. And as mentioned above, there's no one to enforce this.
Castrate them... better yet, remove ALL of their man parts and tattoo PERVERT on their foreheads in giant neon letters as a warning to the general public. There should also be some time of GPS tracking implanted in their bodies to keep track of them.
Wouldn't it just be easier to euthanize the scum bags?
Wow where to start? First, it's quite enough that sex offenders have to register but to ban them from public parks?? Last I checked sex offenders were taxpayers just like non-sex offenders and are entitled to the same services such as parks and employment help that we ALL pay to provide. Next, how do you enforce it? You can't. Finally, I think Charlotte has much bigger issues than sex offenders in parks. This is diversionary nonsense.
so, lets be clear. the 20 year old that got his sweetheart 16 year old pregnant, charged as a sex offender, later gets married to same said girl, now the FAMILY can't go to the park, because daddy was convicted of a sex offense. Let's understand this. When was the last time, the first time for that matter that you saw on the news that "some creepy dude" attacked a woman or child in the Mecklenburg County Parks. I agree, let's get our facts straight first.
It is important to note that the six Towns in Mecklenburg and the City of Charlotte each have their own parks (to varying degrees) and could adopt such an ordinance.
In Huntersville for example, if the Town adopted such an law it would prohibit registered sex offenders from going into the Aquatic club that Huntersville owns.
In Matthews and Mint Hill, there are numerous parks.
I proposed it for Mecklenburg County parks but the City and Towns could (and I believe should) adopt it as well.
The punishment is a $500 fine and up to 20 days in jail at the determination of a judge.
that is crazy. If they are that much of a threat they should be kept behind bars, and not left to walk our streets.
It's offensive to me that the question has to be asked. Like above post, why are they out anyhow? But if it gives the police reason to approach creepy guy, then do it!
This sounds like the immigration dilema...there are laws to protect us, but no one to enforce them.
For Parks & Rec to promote a park access within walking distance of every home in the future, PARK RANGERS are a must.
Oncrime, I know youre busy enough, but maybe time to post a park blog so the above who doubt the crimes happening would see?? It's not fear, it's reality. Show me anywhere else that allows large groups of people to park and move about without any security?? So you dont go to a park???well ones coming up your...back yard in the future.
Absolutely! Sex offenders are preditors with a disease for which there is no treatment. They should be banned from parks (I'm surprised they have not already been). Children will not be safe in parks until these preditors are forbidden from the parks with them also not being allowed within 1 mile of a park.
There is simply no way to monitor the parks throughout Charlotte. Heck, there are car break ins constantly at Park Rd Park and the polic do little to curb that issue. So who would even bother to ensure a sex offender wasnt roaming in the park? No one. Most of the criminal activity in the parks isnt committed by sex offenders anyway. There is other crime in the parks though. The sex offenders are hitting up neighbordhoods and schools, not parks.
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