D.C. official did not report past offenses because the law did NOT require him to do so
As reported in The Hatchet, court records reveal a criminal history that was not publicly disclosed by the highest-ranking official on an advisory neighborhood commission in Washington, D .C. Yes, he definitely has a sordid past, and he did end up on Florida’s sex offense registry; but after going to prison, he decided to turn his life around. Isn’t this what society wants to happen?
D.C. has no law requiring public officials to divulge their criminal background.
The official said in an interview with The Hatchet, “People make mistakes in life, and people should have a pathway forward to redemption in life. The people that serve their time should be able to go forward in life and not be constantly having to be reconvicted over and over again about things they did in the past.”
He did not have to register in D.C. because the District “forgives” convictions from more than 10 years ago. Of course, he does remain on the Florida registry because of the state’s “very strange” laws mandating lifetime registration.
For 25 years, this official has led a life as a law-abiding citizen. This is something our society should be rejoicing over – not complaining about.
Now I do support the ability for one to remain free from this type of behavior after 10 years. Then be removed permanently from their criminal record. I also think that Florida should do this for all FELONS period mandatory that their records be RESET after 10 years not getting a Felony.
To an extent I agree with you….the part I disagree is that those felons who has an extensive rap sheet should be kept from benefiting because those are simply leeching from those who behave well.
I understand your argument but it sort of missing the point..if someone is going ten or more years without commiting a crime then it’s safe to say they aren’t repeating any more regardless of what ever past they had..
After reading the article, over half of which was describing the sex offense for which he was convicted (a consensual sexual relationship with a 17 year old), it appears that this particular publication is very well named.
Damn shame they disabled comments. I’d really like to see some on this particular piece.
Not everyone is repairable just because you healed. There are many who Suffer in silence, and I speak for them. If what happened to you u are OK with and have forgiven that PERP good for you. But I feel differently, and I support all of the new Laws being passed to showcase who these people are in our society.
There’s the rub, none of these laws really address the problem at hand. They neither deter people from committing sex crimes or protect the vulnerable. Yes, not everyone can heal. Some victims have been abused for so long or horrifically enough that they don’t fully ever heal. But those who can get therapy can recover and heal.
By your logic, I should never forgive the two inmates who beat me while at VCBJ. I certainly can’t forget, but that moment and my arrest do not define who I am. If you speak for those who suffer in silence, then reach out to them. Advocate for mental health care. Go to a support program and listen.
Honestly i think more RSO’s should run for office as they don’t have many other options and while they are in office maybe they can change peoples mind as to who we are (not monsters)
in bigger cities they might not win but if they win in small cities they can start change from there
I think it comes down to public shaming and having to relive that former charge and conviction. Even years later its still painful not only reliving and regurgitating your past, but trying to validate or even justify your negative actions and show positive change in your life
Now Imagine how the Victims feel who have to relive what was done to them as kids. Some never get over it and many commit suicide in many cases.
That depends on the victim, what was done to them, by whom, and how long ago. In any case, no one seriously views the registry as an effective way to help victims recover.
Ummm 90 percent DO NOT ever get over it and they suffer in silence until they die one day. It creates PTSD and other mental issues for LIFE in many. Just ask me!
The registry seems to be doing a poor job of getting victims what they need to start recovering.
There are mental health therapists that can help victims. Our society needs to lessen the social stigma of mental health care. I don’t know if ninety percent of those victims are incapable of healing. But I do know that those traumatized can heal.
Some can heal and not all. I’ve known people who’ve been in therapy practically all their lives and still aint healed. Once a car has been T-Boned it’ll never ride the same again, sir cus the A-Frame is screwed up, now you get!
A person is not an automobile. A tenet of a twelve step group is that your past remains a part of you. A person in recovery has to be able to acknowledge the past and be able to move forward in order to heal. That goes for both the addict and those that suffered because of the addict. Nowhere does anyone say that a person will be fixed in ninety days. Healing proceeds at a person’s own pace. One day, one hour, one minute at a time.
@ Derrick, cite your sources for the 90% please.
https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america. This is the numbers being reported but how about the 10s of millions who refuse help or who DO NOT know they need help based on what has happened to them. Why you think we have so many Drug Addicts, Alcoholics and Overeaters in America. America is the BIGGEST CONSUMER of illegal drugs on planet earth. Hmmmm. Something is deadly wrong with those who have to take them to get along in LIFE. Most times and many times Tragic events have happened to place them there. ijs. I’ve talked to alot females in years past and one in 10 children will experience contact sexual abuse in the U.S. before age 18. Its a huge PROBLEM WHICH STEMS FROM SOCIETY BEING OVERSEXED VIA TV AND ANY OTHER MODE OF COMMUNICATION. IJS
Doesn’t answer the question of where you say that ninety percent of people don’t heal. We know that there are barriers to healing because of access, financial, or society. We don’t address it well enough. As for the causes, I don’t think that being oversexed is the main cause. Until the addict comes to realize that they have a problem, they are usually powerless to heal. Addiction is nothing new. MTV didn’t cause it. Neither did Playboy or Elvis.
Your link is to a … survey and some random info about mental illnesses? There’s absolutely nothing in there referencing a 90% anything. Would you kindly link an actual source for your statistics please?
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Sir you missed the whole analogy of the 2. For most people Therapy will not do a dang thang for some, but it has to be ongoing for the rest of their lives if they do get better. Once a tragic event happens in the mindset of many it never goes away. You can never straighten out a car that’s been T-Bone and expect for it to drive normal. It has to be melted down and remolded. This is why alot people commit suicide cus they can’t get past that hurt and pain no matter how much therapy they consume. IJS
I’m not sure I understand your counterpoint. You’re saying that therapy doesn’t work? For some people, yes, therapy can take years. But that does not mean that therapy does not work. As I said before, SA/AA teaches that you cannot forget the past. However, in order to heal that one has to be able to makes amends, forgive and have the courage to move forward with their lives. In a larger sense this works for both sides. To stay fixated on the negative draws strength from tomorrow. I don’t doubt that a victim’s life is changed, but they’re not unable to heal. We don’t throw away a life because of a negative.
Sir unless you have been or are a Victim, you’ll never understand so we will agree to disagree.
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I feel like it’s closer to 90% based on what I see and many who aren’t diagnosed. But the most important of all this is what the damage has caused the Victim.
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As a victim of many crimes including sexual offenses, I disagree. I am not permanently broken or changed beyond full repair. That suggest that in some way I am less of a person than I would have been, I personally find that insulting. No, not everyone is me, nor their experiences the same, but I can speak for a small handful of others who feel as I do. We have discussed this and we are tired of seeing others and other victims telling us we are some how flawed for life. Placing a label on me.
I met a guy who was putting gas in his boat and I in my car and a conversation started. He said he was part of program that took veterans out on his boat, He shared that many veterans thank him as they found it therapeutic and were sick and tired of therapy where they have to constantly re-live their horror. This was a very long time ago and I remember thinking I will remember this conversation. And here we are….Sometimes it can be to much or to long. Each person is different of course. But this constant reinforcing idea that you could never be the person you would have been other wise is not a good message. I wish people would reflect more on what it means to hear this….over and over.
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Anyone else notice the comment, how Florida considers all sex offender’s as sexual predator’s, and must register for life, or petition to be removed. This pretty much solidifies Florida’s demeanor towards us as a whole!
At the beginning of the article, it says that he was convincted of sexually nolesting a boy who was less than 16 years old. Then Mr. Causey claims that it was a consensual relationship with a 17 year old girl.
Then several other victims came forward with molestation allegations.
In the note at the very end of the article we see that Causey was never convicted for th 17 year old girl offense. (So it apparently was for the battery on the less-than-16 year old boy.)
He was null prossed on the fraudulent check charge. But he was, apparently convicted of insurance fraud and a number of other crimes.
He mentions in the article that his family is very wealthy…I wonder if that is why everyone is so deferential and they don’t make much of a fuss about him being a “monster”.
If he was dirt poor like condolucci, well…maybe some (“hero”) would have murdered him in cold blood.
Yes, if they have been a Career Criminal all their lives then NO but people who have gone on and turned their lives around YES.
Lets all face facts. Whether one has a sorted life or been in trouble for this and that crime or been in jail this lifetime is a bit much. Authorities hardly forgive. I have wrote my Governor in VA and even said I would like to have my case revamped or reopened as I dont” want your forgiveness at this time. Seems governments want to play hard nose with this scandal type of sex registry.
This waiting period for forgiveness after one has paid their dues is a bit double sided. Even the paperwork is a bit of a tug of war. What if the person die’s within that Ten years. And as for the registry what if it had been a teen on the other end. And the police say you made your choice. Choices and decisions are two different issues. Forgiveness is good after a debt has been paid. I even went to the person that did the sting on me and told him straight up I forgave him. He was just as dog faced as he was conning me into a plea deal.
Moral of the story is to seek justice any way you can. Take no compromises.
I beg to differ before TV we didn’t have all of the issues we have now atleast to this extent, sir. We are a broken people who can’t fix ourselves correctly. There are many factors why.