Sex offenders face strict laws on social websites
Source: Agencies |
February 13, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LAWMAKERS in the state of Vermont are considering making it a crime for convicted sex offenders to use false names on social media sites like Facebook, after one such incident was reported in the state.
Only two states have related measures, said Erik Fitzpatrick, a lawyer on the research staff for the Vermont Legislature. New York and Illinois bar convicted sex offenders from using social networking sites at all as a condition of their probation.
The National Conference of State Legislatures was unaware of similar laws or pending legislation in other states.
A former teacher at a school for boys who had committed sex crimes told a state Senate committee on Friday that he spotted a Facebook profile last fall with a picture of a former student in the program who was using an alias.
Chuck Laramie, the former teacher, said the 26-year-old man had become Facebook friends with 14- and 15-year-old girls.
The man was convicted in 2004 of sexual assault.
Laramie said he saw Facebook messages the man sent the girls, telling them he was "struggling with his sexuality and thinking he might be gay. Some of the girls were replying by saying, 'Oh, no, you're not.' He was getting these young girls to feel sympathy for him," Laramie said. "It was a classic grooming situation" in which sexual predators psychologically manipulate potential victims.
If the man were a sex offender trying not to re-offend, that was "an extremely high-risk situation to put yourself in," Laramie said.
Only two states have related measures, said Erik Fitzpatrick, a lawyer on the research staff for the Vermont Legislature. New York and Illinois bar convicted sex offenders from using social networking sites at all as a condition of their probation.
The National Conference of State Legislatures was unaware of similar laws or pending legislation in other states.
A former teacher at a school for boys who had committed sex crimes told a state Senate committee on Friday that he spotted a Facebook profile last fall with a picture of a former student in the program who was using an alias.
Chuck Laramie, the former teacher, said the 26-year-old man had become Facebook friends with 14- and 15-year-old girls.
The man was convicted in 2004 of sexual assault.
Laramie said he saw Facebook messages the man sent the girls, telling them he was "struggling with his sexuality and thinking he might be gay. Some of the girls were replying by saying, 'Oh, no, you're not.' He was getting these young girls to feel sympathy for him," Laramie said. "It was a classic grooming situation" in which sexual predators psychologically manipulate potential victims.
If the man were a sex offender trying not to re-offend, that was "an extremely high-risk situation to put yourself in," Laramie said.
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