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Monday, December 01, 2008 10:00 AM
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Stricter new rules governing sex offenders took effect Monday in North Carolina.
The rules triple the time from 10 to 30 years that an offender must remain on a state registry, The News & Observer reported. The state's more than 11,000 convicted offenders are required to register in person with the local sheriff within three days of changing addresses.
Offenders also must stay at least 300 feet away from a place where children gather, like day care centers and schools.
One offender said his sheriff said he couldn't go to church because there was a nursery in the building. The newspaper didn't identify the county.
"I started going to that church when I was 12," said Neil Cagle, 61, who served a four-year prison term for taking indecent liberties with a minor.
The new rules were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley this year.
Legal experts and one legislator said the new rules are too strict because they don't draw a line between offenders who are likely to commit another offense and those trying to lead clean lives.
"We've cast the net too wide," said state Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange, who was the only legislator to vote against the law.
Insko said she will try to get other legislators to understand the problems she sees in the new law.
Jill Rosenblum, a Chapel Hill lawyer who represented a man who committed a sexual offense as a teen, said federal figures show 3.5 percent of offenders would be classified as repeat offenders. She said those need the closest supervision.
Christi Hurt, a rape crisis counselor, said not all offenders are alike and that some had consensual sex with a person under age 16 while others sexually assaulted an adult.
Rosenblum and Hurt have been working to persuade state officials to redraw restrictions to target people likely to commit more offenses.
"The problem is, the law treats all offenders equally," Hurt said.
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Thomas
Whah Whah Whah : Tuesday, December 02, 2008 4:08 AM
You know they are going to cry! While Christi Hurt has stated a fact. Jill Rosenblum spouts Federal Figures just like the ones saying he economy was in great shape a year ago. I think the Non-State Rep. Verla Insko from Orange Co. may have a relative going on the list. It's obvious she doesn't have one that has been the victim! Is this sorry piece of dung (neil cagle) suggesting we're responsible for him not attending that church the last four years? Get real the public is paying to be protected. And it should be protected. Children make mistakes. Adults commit crimes.
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JT
Plain speaking : Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:49 AM
In my opinion there is no rehab for sex offenders. A person who enjoys sex with a child can not be helped. We are only left with is a simple question....WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THEM ?
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Ron Kenerly
Good Law : Monday, December 01, 2008 7:22 PM
If Neil Cagle had been atttending church since he was 12 years old, then he shouuld have known what not to do to get into this position?!?!?! Going to church now is not much help to him. All thse guys need to be openly branded in some way so everyone knows who they are at a glance. The public should not have to guess.
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Watching the Excuses
Mr. Cagle has it easy : Monday, December 01, 2008 3:53 PM
It would have been the sheriff in Haywood County, where Mr. Cagle is registered as a sex offender. The public registry shows he was convicted in 2001 of six counts of indecent liberties with a minor. So instead of the article focusing on Mr. Cagle's plight, maybe responsible journalism should focus on the life-changing damage he inflicted on a CHILD. He should be grateful he isn't restricted to chapel at a prison for what he did!
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bess
Great Law, but..... : Monday, December 01, 2008 11:45 AM
While this is a wonderful law, how would anyone know if a person is a sex offender or not?? I think they should have to wear something to ID themselves as an offender.
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Deb
: Monday, December 01, 2008 9:27 AM
I think this was long overdue. Our first priority should be to protect innocent children from these predators. I have little sympathy for a past offender who cannot attend services at his church. Perhaps if there were tougher penalties for such crimes these individuals would think twice before taking indecent liberties with a child.
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