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Dennis Ferguson
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Paedophile Dennis Ferguson to stay in Sydney unit | The Australian
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Print September 17, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
PAEDOPHILE Dennis Ferguson will remain in his Sydney unit after reaching an agreement with the New South Wales Government, his spokesman says.
Brett Collins, of advocacy group Justice Action, said the deal was struck this afternoon after Mr Ferguson, 61, met with Housing NSW officials and a family protection group.
"He has reached an agreement with the Government and will remain there (at Ryde),'' Mr Collins said.
"His home in Ryde has been preserved (and) there has been an acknowledgment from the Government that he has a right to his home.
"He regrets all the tension that has occurred.
"He is staying with a friend and is distressed by the attention generated by the exposure, however, he has an agreement with the Government and will remain there.''
Mr Ferguson has been living at the premises for the past two weeks, but has been under intense pressure to move after residents learned last weekend about his past.
He was jailed for 14 years in 1988 for kidnapping three children and sexually molesting them in a Brisbane motel.
He completed a 14-year-jail term for the offence, and has since been chased out of several Queensland communities before relocating to NSW.
Mr Collins said as part of the agreement, a community discussion in Ryde would be organised some time in the future to discuss the issue of sex offending, and Mr Ferguson planned to attend.
Mr Ferguson would not be attending a public meeting of Ryde residents planned tonight, he said.
Earlier today, NSW Premier Nathan Rees said he was confident Mr Ferguson would move after negotiations with senior government officials.
Housing Minister David Borger is due to comment on the issue at 4.30pm (AEST), his office says.
Pedophile housed in hotel near school at taxpayers' expense
Ferguson's neighbours offered cash to move out - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
This story has been all over news outlets in Sydney, but it raises many questions that have never been suitably answered: Just what does the state do with released sex offenders? Rates of recidivism are high among sex offenders, and paedophilia is one where no one wants to risk mistakes. A released offender has done their time, and for all intents and purposes is free, parole conditions aside. Placement after release can only be a costly exercise, and it will fall to taxpayers to fund it. We've really got no other choice but to pony up for the extra expenses that suitable placement will cause, right? I can't think of a community that would be entirely comfortable with a convicted paedophile living among them. Does one actually exist? A radio host on ABC 702AM suggested the other day that independent living within the grounds of a prison might suit, where they're actually free, but will be living on grounds outside of regular communities. So far, it's been about the only suitable suggestion I've ever heard, but it again is fraught with faults. How does a released offender rebuild a life when they're still living in prison grounds? What options to they have to relocate/move freely if/when they commence employment? Do they relocate to yet another prison facility? Is this really freedom, despite their being able to come and go as they please? Communities don't want them. Basic human rights declare that they be free upon release. Life sentences will be called for by the die-hard anti right'ers, though sometimes would be suitable for some crimes. However, we have existing sex offenders moving through the system now who cannot be lumped into retroactive or ex post facto laws, and we need somewhere for them now.
I'd love to hear ideas on useful methods of managing the problem. Something which goes beyond the relatively useless call of keeping them all in gaol, or even castrating.
And
Paedophile Dennis Ferguson to stay in Sydney unit | The Australian
Paedophile Dennis Ferguson to stay in Sydney unitFont Size:
Decrease
Increase Print Page:
Print September 17, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
PAEDOPHILE Dennis Ferguson will remain in his Sydney unit after reaching an agreement with the New South Wales Government, his spokesman says.
Brett Collins, of advocacy group Justice Action, said the deal was struck this afternoon after Mr Ferguson, 61, met with Housing NSW officials and a family protection group.
"He has reached an agreement with the Government and will remain there (at Ryde),'' Mr Collins said.
"His home in Ryde has been preserved (and) there has been an acknowledgment from the Government that he has a right to his home.
"He regrets all the tension that has occurred.
"He is staying with a friend and is distressed by the attention generated by the exposure, however, he has an agreement with the Government and will remain there.''
Mr Ferguson has been living at the premises for the past two weeks, but has been under intense pressure to move after residents learned last weekend about his past.
He was jailed for 14 years in 1988 for kidnapping three children and sexually molesting them in a Brisbane motel.
He completed a 14-year-jail term for the offence, and has since been chased out of several Queensland communities before relocating to NSW.
Mr Collins said as part of the agreement, a community discussion in Ryde would be organised some time in the future to discuss the issue of sex offending, and Mr Ferguson planned to attend.
Mr Ferguson would not be attending a public meeting of Ryde residents planned tonight, he said.
Earlier today, NSW Premier Nathan Rees said he was confident Mr Ferguson would move after negotiations with senior government officials.
Housing Minister David Borger is due to comment on the issue at 4.30pm (AEST), his office says.
Pedophile housed in hotel near school at taxpayers' expense
Ferguson's neighbours offered cash to move out - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
This story has been all over news outlets in Sydney, but it raises many questions that have never been suitably answered: Just what does the state do with released sex offenders? Rates of recidivism are high among sex offenders, and paedophilia is one where no one wants to risk mistakes. A released offender has done their time, and for all intents and purposes is free, parole conditions aside. Placement after release can only be a costly exercise, and it will fall to taxpayers to fund it. We've really got no other choice but to pony up for the extra expenses that suitable placement will cause, right? I can't think of a community that would be entirely comfortable with a convicted paedophile living among them. Does one actually exist? A radio host on ABC 702AM suggested the other day that independent living within the grounds of a prison might suit, where they're actually free, but will be living on grounds outside of regular communities. So far, it's been about the only suitable suggestion I've ever heard, but it again is fraught with faults. How does a released offender rebuild a life when they're still living in prison grounds? What options to they have to relocate/move freely if/when they commence employment? Do they relocate to yet another prison facility? Is this really freedom, despite their being able to come and go as they please? Communities don't want them. Basic human rights declare that they be free upon release. Life sentences will be called for by the die-hard anti right'ers, though sometimes would be suitable for some crimes. However, we have existing sex offenders moving through the system now who cannot be lumped into retroactive or ex post facto laws, and we need somewhere for them now.
I'd love to hear ideas on useful methods of managing the problem. Something which goes beyond the relatively useless call of keeping them all in gaol, or even castrating.