The Jan. 29 article "An unpopular message; Speaker: Sex offenders should get 2nd chance" quotes former state representative Tom Armstrong as telling the Rotary Club:
"...a lot of these sex offenders will never get out of prison" for lack of a place to reside when allowed to leave prison. "It's destroyed their lives."
According to the article, "Armstrong said recidivism rates for most types of sex offenders is (sic) about 3 percent or lower. By comparison, he said, half of those convicted of drug and alcohol offenses fail to rehabilitate and then they commit more crimes, and yet they have plenty of housing choices when they emerge from prison."
WATCHDOG: Kudos to Armstrong for persevering in his educational mission, to Rotary for providing a forum, and to the Intell for prominently publishing the article. Sometimes the editors of the Lancaster Newspapers don't immediately understand social issues but, once edified, they tend to do the right thing. There is even hope for the New Era!
(NewsLanc has emphasized that the scope of the term "sex offender" is far too broad, bundling those committing relatively minor sexual infractions and indiscretions with serial rapists and pedophiles.)
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Watchdog, the media criticism and analysis column at Newslanc.com.
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