BUT...I can not help but think these websites are patently wrong. Now, before you crucify me, let me explain. There are a lot of people I don't wnat living around me, like those IJM posted above, but also thieves, murderers and the like. But the real crux of this for me is that I think it is a failure of our justice system. Punishment should be a function of not just serving time for the crime but ALSO a function of how ready you are to return to society. Now, if these scumbags are still a threat to society they shouldn't be out...PERIOD. The rate of recividism in this country is appalling, and makes me think that our ability to rehabilitate criminals is shameful. NOW, some may ask, why should we rehabilitate them. The reason, in my mind is this. We need to look at the net result of punishment. Our goal should be to turn criminals we plan to return to society into at as much of a responsible citizen as we can. We do no justice by turning out someone who is going to create another victim and cost taxpayers more money. If this means longer sentences, so be it, I really have no remorse for the choices people make. BUT, if we are serious about releasing criminals, we have an obligation to make them better than when they went in...not for their sake, but for ours.

Feel free to attack me of you want, I only ask two things. 1) Don't brand me as soft on criminals because it means you didn't read the above. 2) Make a valid point.

Good post.

however, I have accessed this website numerous times just to be 'sure' these a$$holes are 'possibly' not living near my kids.

~* chanel *~