Oklahoma ABC affiliate KOCO ran a story recently on the fact that the state of Oklahoma is getting closer to building the nation’s first long-term care facility exclusively for sex offenders. The story quotes a non-profit organization that states approximately 30 sex offenders are living with other residents causing concern amongst residents and their families. Governor Brad Henry signed a law over the summer of 2008 that requires the state to build a nursing home specifically for sex offenders. For more information on this concept and story, click here.
Technorati Tags: Senior Housing,Assisted Living,Nursing Homes,Long-term care,long-term care facilities
1 response so far ↓
1 MSLGW // Nov 18, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I did some research on the original article and find that this is just another hyped up way to scare tax payers and older people.
” Abuse by Offenders Who
Live in Long-term Care
Facilities Not Tracked, but
Risk May Not Be
Widespread
Because data are not available nationally or in our reviewed states on
abuse perpetrated specifically by residents who have prior convictions,
the potential risk for abuse by offenders residing in long-term care
facilities cannot be accurately estimated. However, based on a number of
factors, including the small percentage of facilities identified as housing
offenders, the risk may not be widespread. For example, offenders
residing in nursing homes or ICFs-MR who have significant physical
limitations may be unable to commit abuse against other residents. In
addition, research on recidivism by sex offenders also suggests that most
do not re-offend and that the risk of re-offending may decline with age. “
Are they planning on putting all patients with Pick’s disease in it? Pick’s disease is an early-onset form of dementia for which the initial symptoms have to do with social behavior (including criminal behavior, not limited to but occasionally including excessive masturbation and exhibitionism, which, when done near “vulnerable” people, are registrable offenses). In fact, many cases of Pick’s disease are not discovered until the afflicted individual comes in contact with the legal system as a result of a criminal charge.
If they decide to segregate every Pick’s disease sufferer into the offender “nursing home”, won’t they come up against the Americans with Disabilities Act or some other law protecting people with disabilities?
http://www.cfcoklahoma.org