Posting  #150 – The VSP Phantom Handout

By:  RSOL of Virginia
Date:  10/15/09

Ten months since our Dissemination of Information Bill was killed and the Virginia State Police still do not share the current laws and restrictions with 15,500 Registered Sex Offenders that are required to obey them.

We sent the below to the VSP Sex Offender Task Force Leutenant.

 Lieutenant,

My husband recently  re-registered at the local State Police Barracks and I accompanied him for the first time so that I might understand the process. I also wanted to ask some questions regarding the laws about those registered.

I first asked the desk receptionist if she had any information or handouts specifying what rules and restrictions those who are registered must adhere to. She responded no, but that the requirements are listed on the VSP web-site. I then informed her that the restrictions and requirements for Sex Offenders actually are not listed on the VSP web-site. She then referred me to the VSP Duty Officer.

He introduced me to the Henrico State Police Sex Offender Officer and they both told me that the information I was asking for is on the back of the registration notice sent to my husband. We happened to have that form with us and I informed them that all that is listed on that form is the laws about registering but nothing about the restrictions and rules one needs to follow to remain in compliance.

They then also referred me to the VSP web-site; I went ahead and informed them as I did the receptionist that the VSP web-site does not list the restrictions and regulations or have a section when new laws are to be signed by the Governor so that a RSO may submit the required legal paperwork to avoid being included in that new retroactive law.

I compared the Virginia S.O. Regulations and Restrictions to the rules of probation, but unlike with probation an offender is not given a print out of the rules to sign and unlike probation the rules are continually changing. I also reminded them that there are thousands of registered Sex Offenders in Virginia that either can not afford to have the Internet or are even prohibited to have Internet access because of their crime or the city they live in (Probationers in Virginia Beach) don’t allow it.

I explained that we are trying to prevent the inadvertent violation of the law and I cited the problems with voting rights when the polling place is a school. A handout both at re-registration and during a State Trooper Sex Offender Task Force home visit would be the best resolution to this current issue. Please let me remind you that these restrictions are not intuitive nor do they always make sense. For instance, If a registered persons son or daughter missed the school bus do they know that they cannot take their own child to school, or pick them up when they get sick at school. This is normally considered being a good parent, but for those listed it would be a felony, possibly a much harsher punishment than the original conviction.

Overall both VSP officers tried to help and were extremely professional, but when one asks specifically for the required rules that every registered Sex Offender in the state must obey and the best answer the VSP gives; is that “it’s complicated because the laws continuously change” then there’s a serious problem with the process. I directed them to the RSOL of Virginia website that lists all of the regulations and restrictions for those who are lucky enough to have Internet access.

During the 2009 Virginia General Assembly we asked that a Dissemination of Information Bill be passed into law. Delegate Marsden saw the need and sponsored this bill but at the first House sub-committee you told the panel that this information was already posted on the VSP web-site and that this information was handed out upon request so our bill was not necessary. As the VSP representative the sub-committee believed your statement and killed our bill. Here we are 10 months later and the information is not listed on the VSP web-site and a handout is still not available upon request.

We ask that you support this effort in this coming General Assembly.

I noted that the registered letter sent to my husband cost over $10 to mail, certainly a one page sheet with the current regulations and restrictions inserted into everyone’s paperwork would not be an exorbitant expense, compared to arresting, charging and convicting someone simply because no one in authority ever gave them the rules they are required to abide by.

We seek to prevent the laws from being broken and the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Task Force should be doing everything within their power to do the same.

To this day, my web-site is the closest thing out there to being an accurate up to date list of the various restrictions, you and the other persons in power should find this beyond unacceptable.

Please work with us on this point going forward as it is important. The persons being jailed are the ones who really are trying to move forward with their lives as good law abiding citizens. All parties involved should support this effort.

RSOL of Virginia

1st Response to Posting #150
From:  Millie
Date: 10/15/09

The absurdities of injustice hang like thick tar in our very midst. 

So all the RSO’s out in society having to abide by special laws and restrictions that no one even hands out to them? 
Then to require them to look on the internet is a joke!!!!!! 

My husband never wants to use a computer again - I can't blame him.

In a nutshell, no one can provide them with any info yet they can get away with the excuse of not providing it, but yet they can prosecute those RSO’s who unknowingly break the rules they know nothing about? 
What an oxymoron. 

This sounds very punitive to me.  It's as if they are setting these RSO’s up for failure and tough luck that they broke the law.

America is going to hell in a hand-basket.

We are so lucky to have you out there on patrol for our loved ones and our benefit.  May God richly bless you and in return we too will be blessed.

Millie

 

2nd Response to Posting #150
From:  Ann
Date: 10/17/09

RSOL of Virginia

Amazing how such "dangerous" people can be left with such ambiguous rules.  My husband has been told by at least two "professionals" in the field of supervision and prevention that the rules are ambiguous.  That "no one really checks up on you unless you re-offend or someone complains about your presence somewhere, then they will convict you by back tracking your steps."  YIKES!!!! 

It makes me terribly uncomfortable knowing that my husband could break a law without knowing it when he is doing EVERYTHING is his power to be a law abiding citizen and a bread winner for his family. 

I have searched the Internet over many times and have not found this mysterious list of laws either.

Ann