by Reg Seeton
For the past thirty one years, America's Most
Wanted host, John Walsh, has been a real life
super hero and crusader for justice. After his
son Adam was murdered at the hands of a serial
killer in 1979, years prior to the premiere of
America's Most Wanted, John Walsh devoted his
life to ensuring that criminals are taken off
the streets, brought to justice, and families
everywhere are safe from violent deviants and
sex-offenders.
In holding both the federal government, including the current administration of Barack Obama, and various states accountable for serving justice and ridding the streets of criminals, John Walsh has single handedly led a three decade crusade of working with law enforcement to capture offenders on the loose with the help of Fox and America's Most Wanted, which now celebrates its 1000th episode. Wash's tireless efforts have also led to invaluable legislation that helps and protects missing and exploited children.
On Saturday, March 6 at 9pm, John Walsh sits down with President Barack Obama at the White House, as Obama makes a guest appearance on America's Most Wanted to mark the 1000th episode of America's Most Wanted. In the John Walsh interview with President Obama, Walsh and Obama discuss the administration’s support of state and local law enforcement, including the Recovery Act’s $4 billion that was allocated for state and local agencies. Additionally in the March 6 airing of America's Most Wanted, President Obama talks to John Walsh about initiatives to bring white collar criminals to justice, crimes that have recently been the focus of John Walsh on America's Most Wanted.
Ahead of the 1000th episode of America's Most Wanted, we caught up with John Walsh to learn more about how states can effectively deal with crime and funding plus how Walsh feels about the line between exploitation and marketing of young teen stars.
THE DEADBOLT: I know how you feel about sex offenders and working in the entertainment industry this is something I've noticed for awhile now. How do you feel when you see a lot of underage teen stars posing half naked on the covers of magazines? It almost seems like we're now a society that's making it easier for sex offenders, which seems like we're going backwards in some ways.
JOHN
WALSH: I think you make a good point, and
I'm very adamant about a couple of things. I'm
very much against violence on television. I
think there's way too much gratuitous violence,
particularly on cable television, that there
is a line without censorship. I'm a great First
Amendment advocate without censorship. We don't
need to be putting these extremely violent movies
on television because it desensitizes the nation.
It desensitizes the young people about the consequences
of violence and death.
And I think it's the same way in the exploitation of more and more younger and younger girls, not only in advertising but in their portrayal in the medium. In many ways, I look at it as being exploitive. It is almost, as you say, a temptation for pedophiles. They're the huge collectors of child pornography and nowadays it's mostly peer-to-peer that they send things to each other.
I really think, without getting into the strict censorship and "big brother" and violating any First Amendment rights, which I think we're a little too cautious of although we are the freest country in the world, I think that in a way this desensitizes and makes children sexual objects and it's not a healthy thing and it's not a healthy trend. As we should respect our women, we should respect our children, and they don't need to be used to sell products in a titillating way.
THE DEADBOLT: Since individual states are afraid they'll get stuck with the price of justice, what needs to be done to hold the state officials accountable for action with funding?
WALSH:
With the Adam Walsh Act, you make a great point,
and President Obama brought it up. The Adam
Walsh Act says that states have to be compliant
and pass companion legislation on the state
level. So far only Ohio has done that and Delaware
is ready to do it. Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden,
the Attorney General of Delaware, is getting
ready to get in compliance.
The states are afraid that if they become compliant with The Adam Walsh Act they may never get the federal funding. It would be like, "Okay, I'm going to have the federal government co-sign for a fifty million dollar mortgage for my state." You take out the mortgage and then the federal government doesn't give you the money and you're stuck with the mortgage payment every month. It's kind of a metaphor.
But I think with President Obama's help, he's going to send that message to the states that you need to be compliant with The Adam Walsh Act. We will give you the money but you have to step up to the plate. You have to offer some money. You have to help us set up this viable sex offender registry in your state, level three only, the really most violent. Catch them, help prosecute them, and you, as a state, are going to have to pick up part of the tab to monitor your sex offenders. It is a reasonable tab.
But every study shows that the closer you monitor sex offenders, the earlier you catch them when they're not compliant, when they've cut the ankle bracelet off or they run, you'll not only save lives, which is the most important thing, you'll save millions of dollars in future costs of prosecution, the terrible toll that it costs victims. So to take that tough bite now and be compliant with The Adam Walsh Act, states will get federal money and they will save money in the future and they certainly will save lives.
Look at the horrible cost that this guy in San Diego is going to cost that community. They're going to spend millions of dollars to try this creep right now. He should've never been on the streets. He should've never been out there to destroy other lives. And if and when he got out, he should've been monitored closely. But not only the terrible, horrible horrible toll in little Chelsey King's life, and probably Amber DuBois' life, it's going to cost millions and millions of dollars to the California state taxpayers to try this creep and to keep him in jail for twenty years. States have got to realize that the proactive type of stuff, like The Adam Walsh legislation, saves money and lives and heartache down the line.
Is a violation of Domestic terrorism, and is a direct violation of the Patriot act... Take that and digest it... Domestic terrorism,,, yep....
I am highly against this going into effect. I think the SO laws we have in place are overly done as it is. I feel the state puts more into sex crimes then they do other serious crimes. None of the registries or gps monitors are doing any good. All I see them doing are harm. These offenders who have already paid there due for the crimes they committed are told they will be reformed and sent back into society to live life. This is false: what actually happens is their families suffer for ever. They are red flagged for life. There is no normal life for them after wards. I think we need reform. They should be punished but the punishment should fit the crime.
If you would read any of the mountains of data and research attached to this subject you would realize that SEX OFFENDERS ARE SEX OFFENDERS FOR LIFE!!!!! (It doesn't stop when they are released from prision)
I read through most of the comments. The majority of them are passionately against the Adam Walsh Act, against the Sex Registry, against life commitments, against residency restrictions and for a reasonable approach to Sex Offenses.
Sure President Obama sat down with Walsh; however, I believe the President will do the right thing when it comes to the Adam Walsh Act. All he has to do is read the 77+ comments to realize how the majority of reasonable people are against the horrendous sex laws.
The Journal Criminal Jurisdiction summarizes the sorry state we are experiencing …
“There is too much anger, hatred, and fear in our society today. We are socially paralyzed by the “monsters in the dark” we create as a way to hurt and discriminate against other."
"Public safety policy is served by rational, reasoned debate—not fanaticism and extremism driven by fear.”
A simple fact; 85-90% of these crimes are comitted by family or friends, What exactly does the registry / GPS monitoring / Living restrictions do for these? It looks as though its a form of continued punishment in the name of regulation. Making communities safer from the 10% while the 90%, well, sorry about your luck. In the 90s the federal government did a study in which they found that 5.4% would re-offend (without treatment)www.usdoj.gov. California just did a 10 year study which found 1.3% re-offence rate. My question is, where are all these scary numbers that the politicians and the media state are fact. Have you ever noticed how the media plays on one case for months? That couldnt be because thats all there is could it? Now, ex-offenders have limited if any job opportunities, forced to live under bridges in some cases, and generally harassed by the public. Meanwhile the media pedals fear with lies. The public registry is nothing more than a modern day scarlet letter.
FAR, Far too many men and women who made a mistake are now listed on the registry. If the sex was consensual, non-violent, and was with someone over the age of 13 I believe they should serve a short sentence then be allowed to go on with their lives.
I too supported and voted for Obama. I regret that decision and will never vote for him again. I have been very disappointed with his policies, or lack of them, but in his support of AWA I've lost all respect for the man. It is obvious he is just like all the other politicians, allowing the media hysteria to lead him without taking the time to learn the facts.
There are many more harmful situations to children that are in abusive homes or even in government care. But nothing is done to call attention because it is easier to put a label that creates fear and gives self serving people a platform. Why isn't Mark Lunsford being investigated and charged for the $400,000 dollars that have gone missing from the Jesica Lunsford Fund? (reference a recent St. Pete Times Article on this) Why did he threaten law enforcement to keep his son Joshua off the registry and further, why did they give in to him when there are thousands of young men who are serving prison time and will be on the registry for a similar action? The recidivism rate for sex offenders is much lower than for other categories yet the public perception, due to misinformed reportings and polticians who want to get on a band wagon to boost their ratings, is ill informed and then get on board with any laws that they think can make it tougher on sex offenders, many of whom pose no threat. A large number have never put their hands on a child or any other person. And the industry around probation officers, so called required group counselors and monitoring devices, polygraphy, are only serving to look after their own interests. Look at child pornography. the internet is booming with this yet nothing is done about the growing availability. Let's get inoformed, and put our resources where they need to be. Since the inception of the registry in the early 1930's, the number of types of offenses in the registry has grown from 11 to 189. Why should you care? You shouldn't, unless you are a father, a son, an uncle, a nephew, a grandfather, or have a loved one who fits into one or more of these categories. I think you get the picture. Those on the registry have no chance at remaining with their families or getting employment. It is time to change these laws and focus resources on those who pose a real threat.
Adam Walsh act is most stupid legislation passed by federal Congress. I mean there are too many very old people, what we can expect
I called today to Public Safety Finance committee in Minnesota Congress.
There was presentation regarding Adam Walsh act. They will do nothing this year.
Next year they will try to look at it again. I got name and phone of
person who did presentation:
Harry Kennedy from Department of corrections. There are no sex
offenders bills in Congress. They seldom use sex offender wording.
Fima
Read the results of CODE ADAM and how many children it has saved.
Why don't we require convicted drunk drivers to register, or those convicted of domestic violence, or those convicted of murder. If it is good enough for one then it should be good enough for all. Why don't we?....because no one would tolerate being put on a list for commiting a crime, being found guilty and then serving their sentence. They would say that they have paid their debt to society and should no longer be punished. How many of us know someone who has a DWI and know that that person still drinks and gets behind the wheel? Why is John Walsh not advocating for the prevention of these possible future crimes? Why? Because used to be in this country you did not continue to punish people after they have served their time and you certainly did not punsih people for the future crimes they might commit.
I only wish I had the power to look into the future like Mr. Walsh and know who is going to commit another crime and put them on a list for the whole world to see, mock and discriminate against. So many people on that list are not violent, child molestors, that the list is beginning to get watered down. So how effective is it? Not very. Lets use the same resources in much more effectives ways, counseling or additional probation time that would be of better service to all involved and stop wasting resources on programs that discriminate and continue to punish one segment of the population.
I disagree with your first paragraph and agree with the second...Alcoholics are Alcoholics...They choose not to drink. Rapists are always Rapists and chose not to rape. In my opinion, pedofiles are the worst slime that take up my O2 in this world. They victimize innocent children....How incidious...to prey on innosense. Secondly, the current solutions don't work very well...I have read alot of research that states that they don't have much luck changing these people to not think the way they do...I heard that in maybe some cases castrataion may help, but not alot..Don't know the answers...Frustrating..
Yes people need to be educated most on the registry never harmed anyone never hurt anyone. Some people are given long prison sentences and they have never in their life hurt or violated anyone and they never would. Our tax dollars are going to keep these people in jail for twenty years destroying lives, familys. Our goverment isn't intrested in finding the real sex offenders the ones that are molesting and raping children every day. they are only intrested in catching the one time offender that just happened to make a mistake and will admit to making a mistake. and crusify those people.
The support in these comments against the insaneness that is the Registry is simply flooring. I was honestly beginning to loose hope for my best friend to be freed from this. A mistake was made years ago that he is sorry for and would never EVER do again, yet he is forced to register year in and year out, even after he's served his due punishment for the wrong doing. This ruins his chances at a good job and a life. Making moving hard, and being forced to live in a dangerous, drug infested, run down part of town. A day doesn't go by where I'm not afraid to wake up to find out he's been shot by one of his neighbors through the thin apartment walls. These supportive comments for those who should not be on the registry bring tears to my eyes because it brings me hope for my friend's life to improve. Thank you all so much.
Corey,
Do ont lose hope, there are so many of us fighting this battle for our loved ones against this injustice and we will never give up. ever. I am so sorry for your friend. What a life, what a travesty.
Thank you, Lauri. I won't ever give up supporting and fighting. Sometimes I don't know what to do, but he has my love till the end of time. . . I just wish that my love was enough. It'll take alot more love to start changing things, love that everyone here is showing.
