Convicted paedophiles would be denied passports in Australia under a "world-first" plan proposed by the government.Without looking at the law, RSOs encompass more than just pedophiles. Post-convction and post-probation crackdowns are happening here, as well.
The proposal, to be introduced to parliament, would prohibit registered sex offenders from travelling overseas.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan said it would affect about 20,000 offenders who had completed punishments but remained under monitoring by authorities.
Sex offenders would be able to apply for passports if they were no longer on the register, the government said.
Some of the arguments against all of this may be legit. But then again, as a class of criminals, pedophiles are probably about as bad as it gets.[1] Standing up for the rights is a pretty hard sell to have to make. I can't think of too many people who are going to brag about that in their advertising.
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[1] I can't be the only one who wonders about those guys driving ice-cream trucks.
OK, two things:
ReplyDeleteOne, child sex tourism has been a thing for a long time, and some interesting names might pop up were we to find who is actually involved. Restricting the travel of known practitioners of pedophilia might actually cut down on it, but wouldn't do anything about the ones who never get caught; read that the ones wealthy and smart enough to take the sort of precautions that say, a drug smuggler takes.
Still, put me down as in favor of it.
But, second, before we institute it here, something needs to be done about who exactly gets put on RSO lists. I'm thinking of a couple of cases I read about where underage couples were caught having sex and put on the list as offenders for having sex with someone underage.
I don't know if common sense can be applied to this by the criminal justice system, but I believe that to be what is needed.
-Doug in Oakland
Common sense and criminal justice system seem to be largely mutually exclusive. See Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions and policy letter to U.S. attorneys re drug prosecution. By the way, why is this honorable gentleman from Alabama called "Jeff" in the press like he's your neighbor or in your carpool. The gentleman is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States and should be extended the courtesy of be called by his name.
ReplyDeleteFor positions involving contact with children every state I know of requires criminal background checks that will pull any criminal record, especially for offenses dealing with children. If I were the Acme Ice Cream Truck Company I sure would get these done even if my insurance company didn't require them.
Most ice cream trucks are independently owned, and just buy their goods from a commercial supplier. However, I would expect most competent police departments keep an eye out for a new truck and pull them over when they first show to check the license for no signal or such.
ReplyDeleteDoug has nailed the issue, who gets on the list, who gets off the list, for what, for how long, and why? The no fly list wasn't a terrible idea, but its implementation has been horrendous. It's now a worthless piece of shir.