Alex, once again thank you for your post and your thoughts.

I must apologize for not making myself quite clear in my previous posts. Let me try to do that now.

My assumption that once a predator, always a predator comes from cold hard facts regarding the sexual predator community. Statistics have shown that even though many receive counceling while incarcerated, they WILL re-offend when back on the streets. My education has come from psychologists/psychatrists who specialize in treating sexual offenders. Not to mention the fact that I have had personal situations with such individuals, both myself and one of my children.

The only reason I included those with developmental disabilities is because I have worked with that population and have studied their issues in this debate also. I was making a distinction between those who are disabled and those who are not (the man upstairs is not). My point being that though those who are predators that are developmentally disabled are carefully monitored, as opposed to the individual upstairs.

I may be generalizing to some degree, you are right. But I choose to generalize on the side of caution and safety for the public at large.

Let me put it to you this way......take tornados.....they can go through a town and totally demolish one side of a street and leave in tact the other side of the street. If I knew one was coming, should I consider that I will be lucky enough that MY side of the street will be spared, or should I generalize that this tornado could be devestating and take all due care to keep myself safe??? What would you choose to???

I am not saying that there aren't sexual predators out there that are not trying to recover. I'm not saying that they don't deserve to live their lives as best they can. All I am saying is that I don't want one living above my home and I don't want to take the risk that he will fail where my family, friends and other individuals are concerned that come to my home.

If you are asking what happens to people being "de-institutionalized" from prison for having done time for sexual offenses, let me offer you this tidbit of information. While incarcerated, these people are to be involved with intense psychological testing, and courses they must go through and pass. They must accept what they have done, take ownership of it and move towards rehab. Many who do this are released from prison before their allotted time is up. When that happens, they are on parole and still have to attend daily/weekly rehab. And MANY of them who have succeed with this, do NOT succeed outside the prison walls. Those who do not own their issue, who do not take responsibility for their actions are left in prison to do their allotted time. When released, there is NO parole, NO rehab required, and NO ONE watching them. They have not tried to fix their problem and have not admitted they even have a problem. This is the case with the individual upstairs. So let's see now, I can A. Ignore the situation and go about my life blindly or B. I can actively seek to have him removed from this home for my safety and the safety of others. To me, the choice is crystal clear.

Thanks again for your thought provoking comments!

Hugssss
Jean