‘Untouchable’ Makes the Case for More Lenient Sex Offender Laws in America…

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Date: January 13, 2019

01) ‘Untouchable’ Makes the Case for More Lenient Sex Offender Laws in America

“A new documentary forwards the argument that our sex-offender laws are based largely on bogus stats and deserve to be reevaluated.

According to Untouchable, there’s a reason most Americans think sex offenders, and pedophiles in particular, are incurable, and thus destined to relapse: 2002’s McKune v. Lile, in which Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a plurality opinion that there was a “frightening and high risk of recidivism” for such predators, and that “the rate of recidivism of untreated offenders has been estimated to be as high as 80 percent.” That statement has since been used in numerous legal verdicts as well as to support countless pieces of state and local legislation aimed at curbing the rights of those found guilty of crimes against kids. In doing so, it’s become de facto common wisdom, almost universally accepted as a bedrock truth about individuals who possess child pornography or abuse (or have improper relations with) a minor.

The problem? The sole piece of evidence that led Justice Kennedy to make such a bold claim came from a 1986 Psychology Today article written by Ronald Longo, a counselor who ran a treatment program in an Oregon prison—and there was absolutely no statistical basis for his “80 percent” assertion. Moreover, Longo himself has since rejected that figure.

Untouchable, a documentary about sex offenders written, directed and produced by David Feige—which arrives on home video and VOD on January 15, after winning the Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival—doesn’t drop that bombshell revelation until after its midway point, which in journalistic terms is akin to burying the lede. Nonetheless, Feige’s delay does little to neuter its impact, given that he spends the early portions of his non-fiction film incisively investigating multiple sides of the sex-offender issue…

…The reason the aforementioned McKune v. Lile decision is so stunning is that, by all accounts, actual sex-offender recidivism rates are low. In three-year studies done by Connecticut, Alaska, Nebraska, Maine, New York and California, recidivism figures are generally less than 4 percent—hardly a “frightening and high” figure. Furthermore, most conclude that there’s no correlation between recidivism rates and geographic proximity, meaning that laws passed to keep registered sex offenders from living close to schools, playgrounds, or other kid-centric areas generally have no impact; if wrongdoers are likely to seek prey nearby, it’s often in their own homes, or in churches or educational settings, where they know their intended targets. If Untouchable is to be believed—and its statistical case appears reasonably solid—then that’s a forceful repudiation of how we think about, and treat, sex offenders.”

Head of international paedo ring ‘stabbed to death in prison cell in targeted attack’…

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Date: January 11, 2019

01) Head of international paedo ring ‘stabbed to death in prison cell in targeted attack’

“Christian Maire, 40, died after the attack at Milan federal detention centre in Michigan…

The head of an international paedophile ring was stabbed to death in his cell in a targeted attack, according to US media.

Christian Maire was repeatedly stabbed and bashed in the cell just a month into his 40-year prison sentence.

His death on January 2 has been listed as ‘homicide’ by the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The cause of death was given as ‘multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head’ however the office is awaiting additional tests that could be finished in 60 days.

Nobody has been charged with the killing, but investigators have identified people who participated in an attack that involved seven inmates at Milan’s federal prison, a source told The Detroit News.

Another member of the sex ring, Michal Figura, 36, an IT specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, was injured in the attack.”

What were these guys doing in general population?…

…This was, essentially, the state sending them straight into their own murder…

At the bare minimum, it is cruel and unusual punishment.

They should not have been doing what they were doing…but there is absolutely no justification for this.

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…..TAP-Net Website | Sub-Blog Archive

Congressman Introduces ‘420’ Marijuana Legalization Bill to Regulate Weed Like Alcohol Throughout U.S…

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Date: January 11, 2019

01) Congressman Introduces ‘420’ Marijuana Legalization Bill to Regulate Weed Like Alcohol Throughout U.S.

“Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon introduced a bill Wednesday that would regulate marijuana the same way the government currently regulates alcohol products.

The bill, H.R. 420, seeks to remove marijuana from the list of illegal narcotics under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The bill would also create a nationally regulated industry that would be overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “420” is slang among marijuana supporters that encourages celebration or smoking of pot on April 20, or at 4:20 on the clock.

Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has worked with representatives from both parties toward legalization of marijuana and cannabis products in addition to seeking progressive reforms on the federal level. Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug defined as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Marijuana sits alongside heroin, LSD, peyote and ecstasy on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s list.”

Gatekeepers of censorship: Contemporary erotic art in a digital age…

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Date: January 11, 2019

01) Gatekeepers of censorship: Contemporary erotic art in a digital age

“When: Wednesday 23 January 2019, 6:30 — 7:45pm
Where: The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts

Join Julia Farrington, associate arts producer at Index on Censorship, psychoanalyst and professor Adam Phillips, and artist Celia Hempton as they discuss the challenges in creating erotic art in today’s contemporary art world with journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Wark.

Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele were two artists that frequently scandalised their audiences in the early 20th century. But what if they were making the same works now – would they be censored? What defines erotic art? Who decides when erotica crosses the line into pornography?

In an age of successful digital media platforms and the prolific production of transgressive artworks, new methods of censorship have become a controversial and impeding issue for contemporary artists. Our panel investigate how censorship has changed in the digital age and to what extent it stifles an artist’s creativity.”

This would be very interesting to attend.