We got a letter in the mail from our city’s police department. I assumed it either had to do with the fact that they will shortly be tearing up my street, or was in regards to the pickup truck that drove through my lawn a few weeks ago. [Yes, it was crazy, a man with the flu lost consciousness, knocked down my neighbor's fence, and hit an oak tree next to my house. Everyone is fine, save for the fence, my neighbor's swingset, and some forsythia bushes in my yard.]
But, indeed, this letter was something else entirely. [emphasis theirs]
… the individual who appears on this notification has been designated a Level 3 Sex Offender by the Sex Offender Registry Board. The Board has determined that this individual is at high risk to reoffend and that the degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active community notification. This individual is NOT wanted by the police.
OK, seriously, this man lives down my street. He was convicted of three counts of “rape of a child with force” in a neighboring state. A few years ago, in the abstract, I might have said “hey, the guy has to live somewhere. What can you do?” But, yeah. Now I’m a mama bear. “High risk to reoffend”?!?! Then why the hell is he on my street?
I’m kinda freaked out. I walk the kids in the stroller with the dog that way. Well, I used to. I can all but guarantee you I won’t be going that direction again. And, of course, then I had to go on the state Sex Offender Registry Board’s website. There are no fewer than 8 level 3 sex offenders in my town, but the others at least aren’t in my neighborhood.
I don’t really know what to do with this information. I mean, I won’t be walking on that end of the street. But it makes me a little sad to think that I’ll probably keep my front door closed and locked more of the time when I’m home. I guess it adds fodder to my thoughts of moving, but the housing market being like it is, I highly doubt we’ll be trying to sell our house anytime soon. Ugh, just creepy, creepy, creepy…
And here I thought I was going to start a campaign to build a park on an empty neighborhood corner. Maybe not so much.
That really, really sucks. But, to play ultimate pessimist here – I don’t think there are too many places you could sell your house to move TO without running into a very similar situation. I remember checking out the sex offender website when we bought our last house and I was appalled. Sure enough, our new house has the same situation. And I assure you, we do not live in or near any sort of bad neighborhood. It’s really sad to say there is just no escaping this crazy world. And it takes having children to realize that.
OMG, I would freak out initially, too, if I got a notice like that. Reading that makes me feel so powerless. There’s a level 3 sex offender who’s likely to reoffend and he’s not wanted by the police? Well, what do they expect you to do about it? Of course, it’s a good thing you know, so that you can take extra precautions, but how sad is it that these days, none of us will be able to let our kids run around willy-nilly around the neighborhood? I remember when I was a kid, my sister and I would spend long weekend afternoons playing in the neighborhood. My mom would look out on us occasionally, but she didn’t freak if we weren’t in her immediate line of vision — it just meant we were on the other side of the block or maybe playing with the neighbor kids down the street. Sigh.
YIKES! I know what you mean about wondering what to do…I checked out our state’s Sex Offender list in our new neighborhood and, although they are not on our street, there is one in the vacinity. It’s very creepy. But, like Cynthia said, there is just no escaping it in this crazy world!
The whole “reoffending” risk, however, would make me turn around the stroller, too!
Being a mother gives you an entirely new perspective on the world (or the neighborhood that you live in!).
Between you and Bev, I had to check the list for my neighborhood – only 3 low-level sex felonies in my zip code (which is Midtown Manhattan so it’s a lot more people per zip code than other zip codes) – not too shabby I must say – maybe you should move here… what, even free babysitting won’t entice you to the Big Apple? Contrast with where I grew up – 94 – yes, 94. I don’t even know how to respond to that. Guess I’ve moved up in the world
Crazy, but totally unavoidable – unfortunately, this is the world we live in.
Thank goodness that you were alerted at least. There are far to many creeps on the loose out there. Take care.
we have a rental house that used to be our primary residence – definitely an up-and-coming but still transitional neighborhood. i got one of those notices and then checked out the website to find out my NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, yah, the one who i talk to every day, the one who helped me change my flat tire, etc. was ON THE LIST! you just never ever know who people really are. but it also taught me that people can be rehabilitated and function normally in society, however scary that may be to us. he served his time, and that was a long time ago. but my, it’s scary when you become a mother and someone with that history is right around the corner. did you see the movie “little children?” so, so, scary on so many levels.