Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform – New Hampshire

Shocking as it is in Georgia, there are many jurisdictions throughout the U.S. that do not place these restrictions on registrants. Following what research shows, that these restrictions offer no public safety benefit and that community re-entry is the best path to rehabilitation, which in turn is the strongest deterrent against re-offense and the greatest assurance of increased public safety, these towns and counties follow as a matter of course that which Georgia finds shocking; furthermore, they do it with no increase in sexual re-offense or children being snatched from school playgrounds and parks by registered citizens on the prowl.

 

At least one representative of the Georgia law enforcement community appears not to have read this research or, if he has, gives it no credence. " 'In my 34 years of law enforcement I have never heard of such an insane law having been introduced,' said Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison Friday. 'Sexual predators are one of this country’s most violent (type of)  offenders.' " Sheriff Garrison appears not to know that those who can be classified as predators make up only a very small portion of the total of all registrants. He seems to make the same uninformed and ignorant mistake made by many, that of thinking that everyone on the registry is dangerous or has offended against a child or children.

 

As a member of law enforcement and thus one sworn to respect and uphold the rights of all citizens, not just the ones he likes, the sheriff's stance is troublesome. Furthermore, as one who is charged with fulfilling the dictates of the criminal justice system, which includes rehabilitation as well as punishment, it goes far beyond merely troublesome.

The Utah state contact of Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc. took exception to Sheriff Garrison's harsh words and wrote him a letter. He began by saying, "I respect the office of the Sheriff where I live and anytime I see the police in my community. It is a tough job, dangerous, and takes a lot of dedication." Then he continued, saying to Sheriff Garrison, "You sir, disappoint me," and he told him why. His primary points are that the good sheriff is indulging in generalization and fostering an attitude of hate toward all registered citizens.

 

Sheriff Garrison replied immediately and succinctly. He wrote, "Your [sic] right I do hate sex offenders. I'm glad you don't live in Cherokee County. Stick to the issues in your community not mine!"

 

I contend that a person with the inability to show respect to all persons in his jurisdiction is unfit to hold an office of public trust. Nor is this limited to the state of Georgia or to a specific sheriff. I hear from many registrants and family members of registrants, and the attitude Sheriff Garrison displays is experienced by many.

But thankfully, so is its opposite. Many registrants and their loved ones have reported being blessed--and that is exactly the way they describe it--with parole officers, probation officers, and/or law enforcement/
registration/compliance officers and personnel who treat them with decency, dignity, and respect. These individuals have not only learned the golden rule but apply it in their everyday lives and work.

That is a lesson that Sheriff Garrison of Cherokee County, Georgia, would do well to learn.

 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

SOURCE: http://with-justiceforall.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-case-of-malicious-sheriff.html

 

UPDATE AND RESULT

A Republican congressman in Georgia made news when he submitted a bill to eliminate restrictions on registrants whose sentences were complete that prohibited them from schools, parks, and other similar places. He was verbally attacked by a sheriff, who was then himself attacked for his hate-mongering speech and attitude. Casey Conat, our man on the ground in Utah, wrote him the following letter:

Sheriff Roger Garrison

Roger,

I respect the office of the Sheriff where I live and anytime I see the police in my community. It is a tough job, dangerous, and takes a lot of dedication.

You sir, disappoint me. I read your response to Representative Sam Moore (R-Macedonia) and cannot believe you are such an Archie Bunker.

What you are spreading is "Hate Speech" towards sex offenders. It is unconstitutional and wrong.
That would be like the public lumping you and all police officers with "Crooked Cops." Are you crooked?
Do cops have the best drugs because they keep the good stuff they confiscate?
Well, I doubt that is you... or the majority of police officers.

So why would you take such a large segment of criminals, "sex offenders," and label them, ostracize them, treat ALL of them with prejudice and unconstitutionally when only 1-3% are what you labeled all of them as, "pedophiles."

You are a smart man and should know better than to generalize, profile, label and make prejudicial and discriminating comments without the facts. This is nothing short of what was done to the Blacks and then briefly those who had HIV or AIDS which, after the facts were examined, was determined by the judicial system to be Unconstitutional to label and discriminate against.

Please get your facts straight and learn about how costly and damaging these laws and the registration system are. This "Hate doctrine" is destroying a country. It is prejudice for people who are the "least likely to re-offend", and willing to be model, productive citizens when their parole, registration, etc., is over. But they are not given that chance due to the ignorance you were spouting. Please reconsider as an intelligent servant of the public that is doing a difficult and important job.

I think you for your time, your attention and your dedicated service.
Respectfully,

OKC

The sheriff promptly sent a three sentence reply: "Your [sic] right I do hate sex offenders. I'm glad you don't live in Cherokee County. Stick to the issues in your community not mine!" which prompted this response by With Justice For All, which Representative Moore read and sent a lovely email of appreciation to the blog writer.

RESULT:

And then, as an interesting side-note, Representative Moore made a public apology for introducing legislation which might put children at risk of danger. He made it clear he was still concerned about constitutional issues but said that the bill as he wrote it was a "rookie mistake." Some advocates were angered; others saw him doing what he could to try to salvage his political career. As for this writer, the jury is still out. One thing is certain; he will not be able to accomplish anything positive if he is not returned to office in subsequent elections.