Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Sex-offender signs hailed and faulted

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Sunday, May 20, 2001
Sex-offender signs hailed and faulted
Most reader responses oppose Bañales' order

Staff reports
   Readers weren't shy in offering opinions of Judge J. Manuel Bañales' decision to order 21 registered sex offenders to place signs in their yards that say "Danger - Registered sex offender lives here" and bumper stickers on their vehicles that say "Danger - Registered sex offender in vehicle."
   Several readers, particularly those who were victims of sexual abuse or who have relatives who were victims, applauded the judge in Caller-Times Sound-Off responses received Saturday.
   But more said the ruling was ill-advised. Readers said Bañales' motives were political, that the signs are unconstitutional and unfair unless they are used for all criminals and that the signs would damage the property values of neighbors.
   Said one reader, "How about a sign for the judge's yard: 'A power-crazed judge lives here.' "
   What follows is a sampling of the responses received:

   Degrading
   I think it is downright degrading because it is bad enough they have a criminal record and they will not be able to get good jobs. It also creates a problem because someone might call up the police and say they have been bothered by the sex offender, but it may not be true. But police will think it's true because they have done it in the past. The key here is education. We are not in the 1700s anymore. We need to grow up.

   Victim's view
   I think it is wonderful. The public needs to know. As a child, I was sexually assaulted. If there had been a sign in someone's yard, maybe it wouldn't have happened to me. I can't praise Bañales enough. It is courageous of him. It is something we need to know because they made the choice to harm a child.

   Signs for all
   I am against it. Not that I think sex offenders aren't wrong. I am against the signs because if you do that, then you should put signs up for everyone. All lawbreakers should have signs then. So even though sex offenders are wrong, they shouldn't have a sign.

   Deserve to know
   Bravo to Judge Bañales for an excellent idea and for finally getting tough with sex offenders. These people are actually animals - predators in our society. We deserve to know who they are. The victims that endure these crimes suffer from emotional scars for the rest of their lives. We need to start thinking more of them.

   Harsh on neighbors
   What is going to happen to the neighbor who is trying to sell his or her house and next door there is a big sign that reads : Danger - Registered Sex offender lives here? Mr. Bañales and Carlos Valdez, this is so ridiculous. I'm sure you don't have a sex offender living in your neighborhood. And if you do, I'm sure you are going to do everything to keep it silent.

   Still paying
   It is wonderful. My grandson was a victim of a sex offender and he is still paying for it 16 years later.

   Family endangered
   I am glad that the judge is taking great interest in the issue. But I am really now, after reading the article, against it. By putting signs in the yard, you are endangering this guy's family - not just him. Normally, I would have agreed until I read about it. I see it as mandatory to send letters to neighbors in a three-block radius.

   Backs Bañales
   I fully support the judge and I think it's a great thing he did. The man's got my vote.

   Political motive
   I think it's horrible. I am a mother of two small children, and I understand about the sex offenders in the neighborhood. But I think this is a political show for Bañales, and I am really disgusted with it. I hope people pull together on this. It is like putting the Star of David on Jewish people.

   Bigger signs
   I think the judge is correct and he should make the signs bigger.

   Bañales, Valdez wrong
   My view is that if the former sex offender has not yet paid his/her debt to society, they should remain in jail till they do. I do not sympathize with sex offenders at all . . . But when someone commits a crime, they should pay their debt to society to the full extent but once they go free, they should not be harassed by a judge and district attorney who have nothing better to do with the taxpayers' money. Judge Bañales and D.A. Valdez are guilty of violating the civil and human rights of these individuals and their families, guilty of abuse of power, and guilty of trespassing on their properties; therefore, criminal charges should be brought against these two bullies. This matter should be brought up to a higher court.

   Property values
   My sincere wish is to have a sex offender living next to the judge. Then maybe he'll see what it's like to see his property value plummet.

   Targets
   In a time when we are so concerned about drive-by shootings, you actually put a target on a person's front yard, including their car. This puts me in danger. What are you doing?

   More signs
   I think that it is a good idea, what the judge did. I think it's too much of a light sentence. They should have to put signs all around their houses, not just one, and put the bumper stickers all over their cars.

   Changing lives
   I think that it is wrong and that people have a chance to change their lives. How can people change their lives if you do something like this? I think it makes them the point of public ridicule and I think it is offensive and awful and I hope that the judge is voted out of office.

   Awareness raised
   I am all for the signs. I think it's something that will make us aware. I have three kids and I think it's a very good idea.

   No deterrent
   In my opinion, the sign is not going to stop people from being sex offenders. It doesn't stop anyone from being smokers. Signs say it is bad for your health but they do it anyway. It is unconstitutional, in my opinion. If you are going to do it, do it for everyone.

   Add drunk drivers
   Placing signs in the sex offenders' yards is a heavy, heavy blow. I think it will work. And while we are at it, we should do drunk drivers and robbers. I think we should do it. Why not show who everybody really is?

   Scarlet letter
   I am shocked and embarrassed by the judge's actions and Carlos Valdez's support. This is a scarlet letter. This will hurt our community more than help. We are regressing in our civility.

   Humiliating
   Horrible, horrible, horrible. Is this the way we treat people who already have damaged egos and psychological issues? We further humiliate them to the public and community instead of trying to rehabilitate them? A huge stack of thorns to the judge and probation department.

   Property protest
   For a while there, it looked pretty bad for our property assessments in our neighborhood. But spreading a few of these signs around my neighborhood has given me plenty of ammunition for my protest hearing. Thank you, Judge Manuel Bañales.

   Love the signs
   We love the signs that the judge is putting up. Put them wherever they belong, in surrounding counties, even.

   Neighborhood rules
   I am curious how the judge will deal with neighborhoods that have restrictions on signs unless they are posted for houses for sale. Neighborhood associations will not allow these signs to be put up. I'm just wondering how that will affect people who are instructed to put these signs up.

   Cruel and unusual
   The judge's order for the sign is cruel and unusual punishment. If there is a sign for sexual offenders, then we should do it for every single criminal. It is not right. He is singling out sex offenders.

   Absurd
   I think Judge Bañales' decision is the most absurd thing I've ever heard of.

   No regard
   I am completely mystified how any judge can do something like this. He has no regard for the families of the sex offenders. If any of them get hurt, will he take responsibility or just shrug his shoulders? I think he and the district attorney are just trying to get their names in the news.

   Wonderful idea
   It is a wonderful idea. If it can save one person, one child, it is certainly worthwhile. Thank you, judge.

   Tattoo
   Why don't we just tattoo a letter on their foreheads? We let robbers, thieves and murderers go free after they serve their time. If the judge is not doing it for all criminal offenders, why do it for just sex offenders?

   About time
   I think the idea is good. It is about time something is done about all these offenders. Altogether, I think it is a great idea.

   Unconstitutional
   It is unconstitutional because someone has already agreed to the conditions of his probation, then they change. It is dangerous because mistakes get made and people get hurt. It is not appropriate in a civilized society, that someone serves their time, does their punishment and has to do it all again.

   Bold step
   Judge Bañales has always shown himself to take bold steps for the public. Good job, judge.

   Big risk
   I believe what he has done in one way is a good thing but in another way it is a bad thing because it will have people looking at their neighbors in another way and it may cause an outrage or violence. He is taking a big risk here by infringing on people's personal life. They have already been through the courts. Putting a sign there is ridiculous.

   Offenders to blame
   I commend the judge for doing what he is doing. I stand behind him 100 percent. They are to blame for what they did. They've got to deal with it. I think it is excellent.

   Exposed
   I think it is a great idea for the signs and bumper stickers. The offenders have exposed their victims and it is their turn to be exposed.

   Hurts families
   My heart goes out to the families of the sex offenders. They too have been through a lot. Stop and think about how people will react. Some people will try to take things into their own hands and bring forth assault and even murder. It is like feeding raw meat to dogs. I believe you are feeding these offenders to the public, which will only bring more violence.

   Bad fallout
   This hare-brained idea is unconstitutional and I am surprised that some lawyer hasn't figured it out yet. The fallout that will take place, such as assault and vandalism, is going to be commonplace. Who will protect the innocent when this can of worms is opened?

   Travesty
   It is a travesty of justice. It crucifies the offender, the wife, the children, or anyone that might be driving his car.
   Protect victims
   I agree with the judge 100 percent. What about the victims and their rights? They always want to protect the criminal but what about the victim across the street?

   Dreadful
   It is very wrong. Although these people act like animals, they are still humans. They do have civil rights. They do have to live. How can you live if it is advertised everywhere. How can you get a job? You can't even try to live a normal life. I think it is dreadful.

   Pretty dumb
   The decision is pretty dumb. How am I going to sell my house if there is a sign up across the street? I would like to know how many sex offenders are around Bañales' house. I'm sure there are other ways to figure this out.

   Did the right thing
   He did the right thing. I think there are a lot of sex offenders in Nueces County. The other judges ought to follow suit. It is a way to let the public be aware of these dangerous people. Hopefully this will help to rehabilitate them.

   Great idea
   The signs are a great idea. Our children need to be protected. I am proud of our judge. If the city really wants to clean up our city, they should do that for DWI offenders too.

   Two sides
   It is probably a very good idea for the public; however, I question the dangers to the offenders themselves and any family they may have.

   More thought needed
   Many of these probationers have built lives for themselves and only have a month or two weeks on probation. With a sign, they will ruin their lives and it will be counterproductive. This will create panic in the neighborhood and places the whole neighborhood in uproar. It labels the entire house as a sex offender. Bumper stickers will certainly cause vandalism. Some thought ought to go into this before we fully implement it.

   Bad mistake
   It is a bad mistake. Someone will probably get hurt. There will be vigilantes. People will have to move all the time and it is just a bad idea.

   Give notice
   The judge has the right idea. I have two on my block alone. At the end of my block is an elementary school. He has committed the crime twice and continues to live in the neighborhood. At least it will give notice.

   Right to privacy
   I think it is utterly ridiculous to place sexual offenders' signs on the person's property, especially if it is a first time offender. That person has a right to privacy, especially if he or she has been convicted, served their sentence, have repented and is now living a clean and pure life before the Lord.

   Too easy
   The judge is a good judge. The signs are too easy. They ought to wear them around their necks, front and back.

   Facing tyranny
   We've all seen movies where brave souls stand together in the face of tyranny. What if we all post sex offender signs in our yards to negate this judge's hateful actions?

   Protect children
   I think the judge should be commended for his outstanding stance on sex offenders. More judges should be the same. I can't see how it is unconstitutional to protect children from sex offenders.

   Add workplace
   This is an excellent idea. I think businesses should have to put these signs on their doors. You want to be warned about whom you are working with. It should be everywhere they go. They cause pain that lasts a lifetime.

   Commends judge
   I am very glad that someone is finally stepping up to the plate. I commend the judge. Anyone who disagrees should live next to a sex offender. As for vigilantes, that is just a chance they took when they did hideous things.

   Prefers jail
   It is a very bad idea. If the judge feels they are still a threat to society, he should keep them in jail.

   Sins of all
   If we all voluntarily post signs in our own yards confessing our own sins, something tells me Judge Bañales would feel he has nothing to post.

   Bad judge
   We need a sign that says "Bad judge lives here."

   No change
   Judge Bañales' idea is great. These people have been proven that they don't change. I don't want my granddaughters to wander up to a sex offender's door selling Girl Scout cookies and have someone not be able to resist the urge. I love this idea.

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