Letter of Reflection 101 (revised)
This is my first quarter at Highline Community College. After high school I studied a few courses, but decided to work for a few years first. I was wrapped up in the petty workforce and procrastinated on returning to school, but life changes and here I am in a new country, fresh start and find myself enrolled in a writing class at Highline. I hadn't realized how out of the academic loop I had been for the past 5+ years.I found writing this time around to be a bit challenging. In my essay writing I found the difficulty in organization, I could not arrange the topics researched to make it flow, or write for an interesting read. In my first essay titled " The Systematic Destruction of a (First) Nation through Residential Schools", I believe it was such a heavy topic and another challenge was how to incorporate all the negative stories and coverage into something topical, meaning writing about it in an unbiased form. I attempted to explain and educate the audience about residential schools, but found that it was much deeper than I could have written in such a short essay, and very limited time. It is something that I have placed on my project plate for further writing, when the time is right.
My writing needed structure and I believe part of my experience I gained from writing 101 was how to use the "they say" and "I say" point of views. The "I say" was a little more evident in the second essay I wrote about Convicted sex offenders; and more so in my third essay personal narrative about home. My second essay Convicts Reintegrated, was very controversial in theory, and I found it both interesting and difficult to choose which side of the fence to write about. As I began researching, I was thinking like a reporter, then as I started to write, I found it easier to make my points a little more clearer, stating what I believe should be implemented as possible solutions.
Although I have a long road to learning the art of writing, I have gained a little more confidence when I write. I have opened myself up to accepting peer review, and publicly posting my work online. I have lots of room for improvements when it comes to essay writing. This class was just a stepping stone to learning more of how to write academically. Although I found a lot of it to be challenging, I enjoyed it and absorbed it as a learning experience.
Crystal Black
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Portfolio Essay 2
Convicts Reintegrated (Revised essay2)
When a convicted sexual offender is released from prison it creates fear and public out rage in the community. Nobody wants a convicted sex criminal in their neighborhood. Many states are increasing the number of feet an offender is restricted from where children congregate. Because of these revised residency laws, it severely limits the available housing for offenders and many become homeless, living on the streets and under bridges. Although managing sexual offenders accordingly poses a challenge for law makers, I believe leaving them out to be homeless doesn’t solve or positively improve the problem. Instead a sequence of strategies should be imposed such as: An assessment of individual risk of re-offence, matched with transitional housing, surveillance, supervision, and mandatory treatment.
It is inevitable that convicts will eventually be released and just as drug addicts, alcoholics, and other criminals have half way houses, there should be transitional housing for convicted sex offenders released from prison. These houses are not entirely government and tax funded. These men would have to find a job, and pay for their own shelter, food and living. Having a solid address for offenders makes it easier to monitor and manage each of their cases.
Prevention of recidivism is crucial and attention to psychiatric therapy counseling in combination with a drug treatment should be considered by the law makers. While still in the early stages of being used for mainstream treatment, the drug depo-provera is, in some cases, administered to repeat sex offenders to lower the sex drive and deter the physical urges, known as chemical castration. Keith Robinson, a castrated sex offender, who was convicted for molesting his five year old niece, states,”Things I found stimulating, don’t cross my mind anymore”.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was implemented in to legislation on July 26, 2006. This act establishes a national sex offender registration database system. Under this act an offender must register all personal information, and be classified under a 3 tier system depending on the offense. A level 3 offender has to register as a sex offender for life, and has to check in with authorities every 90 days. A level 2 offender has a 25 year registration with check-in every 180 days.
Along with housing and surveillance, it should be mandatory for convicted sex offenders to complete the sex offenders’ treatment program. As many as 95 percent of sex offenders in Washington are released back into the community; and fewer than 7 percent complete the sex offenders program. These programs cover everything from psychological assessments, addressing sexual deviancy, and counselling to learning life skills.
With these combined strategies, I believe it would lower the chances of reoffence. These possible solutions may seem cruel and intrusive of the rights of a sex offender, but these men are still alive. They have permenantly affected their victims, and for that, they get to live in discomfort for it. But at least they would have each other and home…
Crystal Black
Citations:
"Sex offender treatment in prison." Department of Corrections. 2007. 13 Aug. 2008 http://www.doc.wa.gov/community/sexoffenders/prisontreatment.asp
Adam Walsh Act." America's Most Wanted. http://www.amw.com/features/feature_story_detail.cfm?id=1206 Date and author are unclear August 2, 2008 MacAdam, Harry.
"Chemical Castration." The Sun. 26 June 2006. 2 Aug. 2008 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article53511.ece.
Daly, Ian. "Perverted Justice." Details.com. 7 July 2008. 2 Aug. 2008
http://men.style.com/details/blogs/details/sleep_away_camp/index.html
When a convicted sexual offender is released from prison it creates fear and public out rage in the community. Nobody wants a convicted sex criminal in their neighborhood. Many states are increasing the number of feet an offender is restricted from where children congregate. Because of these revised residency laws, it severely limits the available housing for offenders and many become homeless, living on the streets and under bridges. Although managing sexual offenders accordingly poses a challenge for law makers, I believe leaving them out to be homeless doesn’t solve or positively improve the problem. Instead a sequence of strategies should be imposed such as: An assessment of individual risk of re-offence, matched with transitional housing, surveillance, supervision, and mandatory treatment.
It is inevitable that convicts will eventually be released and just as drug addicts, alcoholics, and other criminals have half way houses, there should be transitional housing for convicted sex offenders released from prison. These houses are not entirely government and tax funded. These men would have to find a job, and pay for their own shelter, food and living. Having a solid address for offenders makes it easier to monitor and manage each of their cases.
Prevention of recidivism is crucial and attention to psychiatric therapy counseling in combination with a drug treatment should be considered by the law makers. While still in the early stages of being used for mainstream treatment, the drug depo-provera is, in some cases, administered to repeat sex offenders to lower the sex drive and deter the physical urges, known as chemical castration. Keith Robinson, a castrated sex offender, who was convicted for molesting his five year old niece, states,”Things I found stimulating, don’t cross my mind anymore”.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was implemented in to legislation on July 26, 2006. This act establishes a national sex offender registration database system. Under this act an offender must register all personal information, and be classified under a 3 tier system depending on the offense. A level 3 offender has to register as a sex offender for life, and has to check in with authorities every 90 days. A level 2 offender has a 25 year registration with check-in every 180 days.
Along with housing and surveillance, it should be mandatory for convicted sex offenders to complete the sex offenders’ treatment program. As many as 95 percent of sex offenders in Washington are released back into the community; and fewer than 7 percent complete the sex offenders program. These programs cover everything from psychological assessments, addressing sexual deviancy, and counselling to learning life skills.
With these combined strategies, I believe it would lower the chances of reoffence. These possible solutions may seem cruel and intrusive of the rights of a sex offender, but these men are still alive. They have permenantly affected their victims, and for that, they get to live in discomfort for it. But at least they would have each other and home…
Crystal Black
Citations:
"Sex offender treatment in prison." Department of Corrections. 2007. 13 Aug. 2008 http://www.doc.wa.gov/community/sexoffenders/prisontreatment.asp
Adam Walsh Act." America's Most Wanted. http://www.amw.com/features/feature_story_detail.cfm?id=1206 Date and author are unclear August 2, 2008 MacAdam, Harry.
"Chemical Castration." The Sun. 26 June 2006. 2 Aug. 2008 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article53511.ece.
Daly, Ian. "Perverted Justice." Details.com. 7 July 2008. 2 Aug. 2008
http://men.style.com/details/blogs/details/sleep_away_camp/index.html
Portfolio Essay 3
The House (Essay3/Revised 2)
As I lay here, in another country, in my new home, I reflect back on all the places I have lived. At seven, I moved out of my grandparent’s home and away from my family, my mom moved up-island and I had to move with my dad. It was great, but at seven even I knew he had no clue, so I tried to make it easy for him. He was a chef and had a good job with a hotel chain. We lived in a one bedroom apartment across the street from school, near downtown Victoria. I was happy, but being an only child, I missed "the kids". "The kids" are my first cousins, and we all grew up together. My mom thought it was best for me if I lived with my dad because she wanted me to experience life outside of the paralyzing effects of alcoholism and destructive lifestyles on the reservation.
On long weekends and holidays my grandparents would come pick me up for a visit. My grandpa had many cars, but one particular one that I remember is his Monte Carlo, he loved it. I remember it had that old man, pine tree air freshener in there, mixed with the smell of his brylcreem. We would jam out to his oldies songs playing on this tape deck player and head home to Sidney. Sidney is where my grandfather grew up and where he raised his family. My mom and I still had a room at the house and would share it on our visits. Sometimes I would miss her by a week, but once in a while we would visit my grandparents on the same weekend. On those weekends my little world seemed to be all balanced out. I had my mom, my grandparents, and my cousins and I was home again. My grandparents have nice property, on the mountain, overlooking the airport through the trees. My three uncles have houses surrounding the main house and at night it gets so dark, you can’t even see your hand in front of you. Many wildlife come through the property and we have a family of owls that sing to us at night. The house has always been home even when I'd lived off in town with my dad.
One winter break, my mom came to pick me up from my dads and we went to my grandparents place. It was winter of '96/'97 and el nino created the perfect snow blizzard. It snowed steady and thick for a couple of days and when it was through we had almost 6 feet in some places. That's a lot for the northwest; it usually snows for a day then rains it all away. This time, everyone was stranded, not just us suburban folk from the mountain. On the second day of fallen snow, my mom and I went to get some groceries and whatever we might need for the next few days. The snow was getting so think that even taxi cabs were refusing to pick up anyone. At the grocery store, there was a woman standing outside with all of her groceries, she said she had been waiting for almost two hours for a cab. So we loaded her bags of eggo waffles, coffee, cat litter and groceries into my moms 4x4 bronco, and drove her home. We were the only ones on the highway and we knew we had to get home really quick. It continued to snow and as far as we knew nobody was going anywhere. We barely made it back to the house, even with great tires and four wheel drive. My grandpa had his fire blazing in the woodstove, tea was always ready, and everyone even my gram gram (grandma’s mother) was home. That night the whole family came together, my uncles and their families came down to “the house” and pitched in and we had a big turkey dinner, better than Christmas, just days before.
Though this may have been the last time I’ve spent the night there, and I’ve lived in about 6 places since that winter blizzard, I still recall the warmth and unity our family had when we all came together during that time. I am grateful for the decision my mother made, for I have had a healthy, “normal” life. When I’m visiting the family these days, I stay in my own home, just down the road from “the house”. The house has changed since my days, the next generation of “kids” is growing strong. My cousins have families of their own and they’re making memories of their childhood. I am starting my new life in another country, and I am happy. I am building my new home to be as healthy and warm as I can. My last visit home was mostly to pick up the rest of my packed belongings, have a quick breakfast with grandma and grandpa and then a long drive home… to Washington.
Crystal Black
As I lay here, in another country, in my new home, I reflect back on all the places I have lived. At seven, I moved out of my grandparent’s home and away from my family, my mom moved up-island and I had to move with my dad. It was great, but at seven even I knew he had no clue, so I tried to make it easy for him. He was a chef and had a good job with a hotel chain. We lived in a one bedroom apartment across the street from school, near downtown Victoria. I was happy, but being an only child, I missed "the kids". "The kids" are my first cousins, and we all grew up together. My mom thought it was best for me if I lived with my dad because she wanted me to experience life outside of the paralyzing effects of alcoholism and destructive lifestyles on the reservation.
On long weekends and holidays my grandparents would come pick me up for a visit. My grandpa had many cars, but one particular one that I remember is his Monte Carlo, he loved it. I remember it had that old man, pine tree air freshener in there, mixed with the smell of his brylcreem. We would jam out to his oldies songs playing on this tape deck player and head home to Sidney. Sidney is where my grandfather grew up and where he raised his family. My mom and I still had a room at the house and would share it on our visits. Sometimes I would miss her by a week, but once in a while we would visit my grandparents on the same weekend. On those weekends my little world seemed to be all balanced out. I had my mom, my grandparents, and my cousins and I was home again. My grandparents have nice property, on the mountain, overlooking the airport through the trees. My three uncles have houses surrounding the main house and at night it gets so dark, you can’t even see your hand in front of you. Many wildlife come through the property and we have a family of owls that sing to us at night. The house has always been home even when I'd lived off in town with my dad.
One winter break, my mom came to pick me up from my dads and we went to my grandparents place. It was winter of '96/'97 and el nino created the perfect snow blizzard. It snowed steady and thick for a couple of days and when it was through we had almost 6 feet in some places. That's a lot for the northwest; it usually snows for a day then rains it all away. This time, everyone was stranded, not just us suburban folk from the mountain. On the second day of fallen snow, my mom and I went to get some groceries and whatever we might need for the next few days. The snow was getting so think that even taxi cabs were refusing to pick up anyone. At the grocery store, there was a woman standing outside with all of her groceries, she said she had been waiting for almost two hours for a cab. So we loaded her bags of eggo waffles, coffee, cat litter and groceries into my moms 4x4 bronco, and drove her home. We were the only ones on the highway and we knew we had to get home really quick. It continued to snow and as far as we knew nobody was going anywhere. We barely made it back to the house, even with great tires and four wheel drive. My grandpa had his fire blazing in the woodstove, tea was always ready, and everyone even my gram gram (grandma’s mother) was home. That night the whole family came together, my uncles and their families came down to “the house” and pitched in and we had a big turkey dinner, better than Christmas, just days before.
Though this may have been the last time I’ve spent the night there, and I’ve lived in about 6 places since that winter blizzard, I still recall the warmth and unity our family had when we all came together during that time. I am grateful for the decision my mother made, for I have had a healthy, “normal” life. When I’m visiting the family these days, I stay in my own home, just down the road from “the house”. The house has changed since my days, the next generation of “kids” is growing strong. My cousins have families of their own and they’re making memories of their childhood. I am starting my new life in another country, and I am happy. I am building my new home to be as healthy and warm as I can. My last visit home was mostly to pick up the rest of my packed belongings, have a quick breakfast with grandma and grandpa and then a long drive home… to Washington.
Crystal Black
Portfolio Final Exam
*Final Essay*
Nora Ephron, Author of “Revision and Life: Take it from the top-Again”, writes, "…I suspect there is just so much you can teach college students about revision; a gift for revision may be a developmental stage--like a 2-year-old’s sudden ability to place one block on top of another--that comes along somewhat later, in one’s mid-20s, say; most people may not be particularly good at it, or even interested in it, until then.
When I was in college, I revised nothing. I wrote out my papers in longhand, typed them up and turned them in. It would never have crossed my mind that what I had produced was only a first draft and that I had more work to do; the idea was to get to the end, and once you had got to the end you were finished."
Many writers, especially from an older generation probably felt they were finished writing when the paper was done. When I was younger, I remember feeling the same way.
In my high school days, I would write first and maybe second draft, type it on the computer and revised spelling and punctuation only as I typed along. I just didn’t get that there was such a process to writing. I agree with Ephron when she states, “ …a gift for revision may be a developmental stage—like a 2-year olds’ sudden ability to place one block on top of another-- that comes along somewhere later, in one’s mid 20s, say; most people may not be particularly good at it, or even interested in it, until then.” Maybe it’s because of my age, now that I’m older, that I actually care, or take interest in what my papers look and read like. Perhaps, it just wasn’t stressed, until now, that revising 2nd, 3rd and even 4 or more drafts were a vital role in creating a paper.
Along with learning new essay writing techniques, such as use of templates and citations, I had to master the rough draft revision process through the computer. Throughout writing 101 I still wrote many assignments, paragraphs, and sentences on paper first. This class has definitely taught me the importance of revising a paper; not only has peer review helped, simply reading a paper out loud made paper writing better in the drafting stages. I caught many errors through this process. Although I may not even be “particularly good” as ephron says, at writing yet, writing 101 had opened my mind to the whole writing process. This class is just the beginning of my writing career.
Crystal Black
Nora Ephron, Author of “Revision and Life: Take it from the top-Again”, writes, "…I suspect there is just so much you can teach college students about revision; a gift for revision may be a developmental stage--like a 2-year-old’s sudden ability to place one block on top of another--that comes along somewhat later, in one’s mid-20s, say; most people may not be particularly good at it, or even interested in it, until then.
When I was in college, I revised nothing. I wrote out my papers in longhand, typed them up and turned them in. It would never have crossed my mind that what I had produced was only a first draft and that I had more work to do; the idea was to get to the end, and once you had got to the end you were finished."
Many writers, especially from an older generation probably felt they were finished writing when the paper was done. When I was younger, I remember feeling the same way.
In my high school days, I would write first and maybe second draft, type it on the computer and revised spelling and punctuation only as I typed along. I just didn’t get that there was such a process to writing. I agree with Ephron when she states, “ …a gift for revision may be a developmental stage—like a 2-year olds’ sudden ability to place one block on top of another-- that comes along somewhere later, in one’s mid 20s, say; most people may not be particularly good at it, or even interested in it, until then.” Maybe it’s because of my age, now that I’m older, that I actually care, or take interest in what my papers look and read like. Perhaps, it just wasn’t stressed, until now, that revising 2nd, 3rd and even 4 or more drafts were a vital role in creating a paper.
Along with learning new essay writing techniques, such as use of templates and citations, I had to master the rough draft revision process through the computer. Throughout writing 101 I still wrote many assignments, paragraphs, and sentences on paper first. This class has definitely taught me the importance of revising a paper; not only has peer review helped, simply reading a paper out loud made paper writing better in the drafting stages. I caught many errors through this process. Although I may not even be “particularly good” as ephron says, at writing yet, writing 101 had opened my mind to the whole writing process. This class is just the beginning of my writing career.
Crystal Black
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Portfolio- Letter of Reflection
Letter of Reflection 101 (revised)
This is my first quarter at Highline Community College. After high school I studied a few courses, but decided to work for a few years first. I was wrapped up in the petty workforce and procrastinated on returning to school, but life changes and here I am in a new country, fresh start and find myself enrolled in a writing class at Highline. I hadn't realized how out of the academic loop I had been for the past 5+ years.I found writing this time around to be a bit challenging. In my essay writing I found the difficulty in organization, I could not arrange the topics researched to make it flow, or write for an interesting read. In my first essay titled " The Systematic Destruction of a (First) Nation through Residential Schools", I believe it was such a heavy topic and another challenge was how to incorporate all the negative stories and coverage into something topical, meaning writing about it in an unbiased form. I attempted to explain and educate the audience about residential schools, but found that it was much deeper than I could have written in such a short essay, and very limited time. It is something that I have placed on my project plate for further writing, when the time is right.
My writing needed structure and I believe part of my experience I gained from writing 101 was how to use the "they say" and "I say" point of views. The "I say" was a little more evident in the second essay I wrote about Convicted sex offenders; and more so in my third essay personal narrative about home. My second essay Convicts Reintegrated, was very controversial in theory, and I found it both interesting and difficult to choose which side of the fence to write about. As I began researching, I was thinking like a reporter, then as I started to write, I found it easier to make my points a little more clearer, stating what I believe should be implemented as possible solutions.
Although I have a long road to learning the art of writing, I have gained a little more confidence when I write. I have opened myself up to accepting peer review, and publicly posting my work online. I have lots of room for improvements when it comes to essay writing. This class was just a stepping stone to learning more of how to write academically. Although I found a lot of it to be challenging, I enjoyed it and absorbed it as a learning experience.
This is my first quarter at Highline Community College. After high school I studied a few courses, but decided to work for a few years first. I was wrapped up in the petty workforce and procrastinated on returning to school, but life changes and here I am in a new country, fresh start and find myself enrolled in a writing class at Highline. I hadn't realized how out of the academic loop I had been for the past 5+ years.I found writing this time around to be a bit challenging. In my essay writing I found the difficulty in organization, I could not arrange the topics researched to make it flow, or write for an interesting read. In my first essay titled " The Systematic Destruction of a (First) Nation through Residential Schools", I believe it was such a heavy topic and another challenge was how to incorporate all the negative stories and coverage into something topical, meaning writing about it in an unbiased form. I attempted to explain and educate the audience about residential schools, but found that it was much deeper than I could have written in such a short essay, and very limited time. It is something that I have placed on my project plate for further writing, when the time is right.
My writing needed structure and I believe part of my experience I gained from writing 101 was how to use the "they say" and "I say" point of views. The "I say" was a little more evident in the second essay I wrote about Convicted sex offenders; and more so in my third essay personal narrative about home. My second essay Convicts Reintegrated, was very controversial in theory, and I found it both interesting and difficult to choose which side of the fence to write about. As I began researching, I was thinking like a reporter, then as I started to write, I found it easier to make my points a little more clearer, stating what I believe should be implemented as possible solutions.
Although I have a long road to learning the art of writing, I have gained a little more confidence when I write. I have opened myself up to accepting peer review, and publicly posting my work online. I have lots of room for improvements when it comes to essay writing. This class was just a stepping stone to learning more of how to write academically. Although I found a lot of it to be challenging, I enjoyed it and absorbed it as a learning experience.
Portfolio- Essay #2
Convicts Reintegrated (Revised essay2)
When a convicted sexual offender is released from prison it creates fear and public out rage in the community. Nobody wants a convicted sex criminal in their neighborhood. Many states are increasing the number of feet an offender is restricted from where children congregate. Because of these revised residency laws, it severely limits the available housing for offenders and many become homeless, living on the streets and under bridges. Although managing sexual offenders accordingly poses a challenge for law makers, I believe leaving them out to be homeless doesn’t solve or positively improve the problem. Instead a sequence of strategies should be imposed such as: An assessment of individual risk of re-offence, matched with transitional housing, surveillance, supervision, and mandatory treatment.
It is inevitable that convicts will eventually be released and just as drug addicts, alcoholics, and other criminals have half way houses, there should be transitional housing for convicted sex offenders released from prison. These houses are not entirely government and tax funded. These men would have to find a job, and pay for their own shelter, food and living. Having a solid address for offenders makes it easier to monitor and manage each of their cases.
Prevention of recidivism is crucial and attention to psychiatric therapy counseling in combination with a drug treatment should be considered by the law makers. While still in the early stages of being used for mainstream treatment, the drug depo-provera is, in some cases, administered to repeat sex offenders to lower the sex drive and deter the physical urges, known as chemical castration. Keith Robinson, a castrated sex offender, who was convicted for molesting his five year old niece, states,”Things I found stimulating, don’t cross my mind anymore”.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was implemented in to legislation on July 26, 2006. This act establishes a national sex offender registration database system. Under this act an offender must register all personal information, and be classified under a 3 tier system depending on the offense. A level 3 offender has to register as a sex offender for life, and has to check in with authorities every 90 days. A level 2 offender has a 25 year registration with check-in every 180 days.
Along with housing and surveillance, it should be mandatory for convicted sex offenders to complete the sex offenders’ treatment program. As many as 95 percent of sex offenders in Washington are released back into the community; and fewer than 7 percent complete the sex offenders program. These programs cover everything from psychological assessments, addressing sexual deviancy, and counselling to learning life skills.
With these combined strategies, I believe it would lower the chances of reoffence. These possible solutions may seem cruel and intrusive of the rights of a sex offender, but these men are still alive. They have permenantly affected their victims, and for that, they get to live in discomfort for it. But at least they would have each other and home…
Crystal Black
Citations:
When a convicted sexual offender is released from prison it creates fear and public out rage in the community. Nobody wants a convicted sex criminal in their neighborhood. Many states are increasing the number of feet an offender is restricted from where children congregate. Because of these revised residency laws, it severely limits the available housing for offenders and many become homeless, living on the streets and under bridges. Although managing sexual offenders accordingly poses a challenge for law makers, I believe leaving them out to be homeless doesn’t solve or positively improve the problem. Instead a sequence of strategies should be imposed such as: An assessment of individual risk of re-offence, matched with transitional housing, surveillance, supervision, and mandatory treatment.
It is inevitable that convicts will eventually be released and just as drug addicts, alcoholics, and other criminals have half way houses, there should be transitional housing for convicted sex offenders released from prison. These houses are not entirely government and tax funded. These men would have to find a job, and pay for their own shelter, food and living. Having a solid address for offenders makes it easier to monitor and manage each of their cases.
Prevention of recidivism is crucial and attention to psychiatric therapy counseling in combination with a drug treatment should be considered by the law makers. While still in the early stages of being used for mainstream treatment, the drug depo-provera is, in some cases, administered to repeat sex offenders to lower the sex drive and deter the physical urges, known as chemical castration. Keith Robinson, a castrated sex offender, who was convicted for molesting his five year old niece, states,”Things I found stimulating, don’t cross my mind anymore”.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was implemented in to legislation on July 26, 2006. This act establishes a national sex offender registration database system. Under this act an offender must register all personal information, and be classified under a 3 tier system depending on the offense. A level 3 offender has to register as a sex offender for life, and has to check in with authorities every 90 days. A level 2 offender has a 25 year registration with check-in every 180 days.
Along with housing and surveillance, it should be mandatory for convicted sex offenders to complete the sex offenders’ treatment program. As many as 95 percent of sex offenders in Washington are released back into the community; and fewer than 7 percent complete the sex offenders program. These programs cover everything from psychological assessments, addressing sexual deviancy, and counselling to learning life skills.
With these combined strategies, I believe it would lower the chances of reoffence. These possible solutions may seem cruel and intrusive of the rights of a sex offender, but these men are still alive. They have permenantly affected their victims, and for that, they get to live in discomfort for it. But at least they would have each other and home…
Crystal Black
Citations:
"Sex offender treatment in prison." Department of Corrections. 2007. 13 Aug. 2008 http://www.doc.wa.gov/community/sexoffenders/prisontreatment.asp
Adam Walsh Act." America's Most Wanted. http://www.amw.com/features/feature_story_detail.cfm?id=1206 Date and author are unclear August 2, 2008 MacAdam, Harry. "Chemical Castration." The Sun. 26 June 2006. 2 Aug. 2008 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article53511.ece. Daly, Ian. "Perverted Justice." Details.com. 7 July 2008. 2 Aug. 2008 http://men.style.com/details/blogs/details/sleep_away_camp/index.htmlPortfolio- Essay3
The House (Essay3/Revised 2)
As I lay here, in another country, in my new home, I reflect back on all the places I have lived. At seven, I moved out of my grandparent’s home and away from my family, my mom moved up-island and I had to move with my dad. It was great, but at seven even I knew he had no clue, so I tried to make it easy for him. He was a chef and had a good job with a hotel chain. We lived in a one bedroom apartment across the street from school, near downtown Victoria. I was happy, but being an only child, I missed "the kids". "The kids" are my first cousins, and we all grew up together. My mom thought it was best for me if I lived with my dad because she wanted me to experience life outside of the paralyzing effects of alcoholism and destructive lifestyles on the reservation.
On long weekends and holidays my grandparents would come pick me up for a visit. My grandpa had many cars, but one particular one that I remember is his Monte Carlo, he loved it. I remember it had that old man, pine tree air freshener in there, mixed with the smell of his brylcreem. We would jam out to his oldies songs playing on this tape deck player and head home to Sidney. Sidney is where my grandfather grew up and where he raised his family. My mom and I still had a room at the house and would share it on our visits. Sometimes I would miss her by a week, but once in a while we would visit my grandparents on the same weekend. On those weekends my little world seemed to be all balanced out. I had my mom, my grandparents, and my cousins and I was home again. My grandparents have nice property, on the mountain, overlooking the airport through the trees. My three uncles have houses surrounding the main house and at night it gets so dark, you can’t even see your hand in front of you. Many wildlife come through the property and we have a family of owls that sing to us at night. The house has always been home even when I'd lived off in town with my dad.
One winter break, my mom came to pick me up from my dads and we went to my grandparents place. It was winter of '96/'97 and el nino created the perfect snow blizzard. It snowed steady and thick for a couple of days and when it was through we had almost 6 feet in some places. That's a lot for the northwest; it usually snows for a day then rains it all away. This time, everyone was stranded, not just us suburban folk from the mountain. On the second day of fallen snow, my mom and I went to get some groceries and whatever we might need for the next few days. The snow was getting so think that even taxi cabs were refusing to pick up anyone. At the grocery store, there was a woman standing outside with all of her groceries, she said she had been waiting for almost two hours for a cab. So we loaded her bags of eggo waffles, coffee, cat litter and groceries into my moms 4x4 bronco, and drove her home. We were the only ones on the highway and we knew we had to get home really quick. It continued to snow and as far as we knew nobody was going anywhere. We barely made it back to the house, even with great tires and four wheel drive. My grandpa had his fire blazing in the woodstove, tea was always ready, and everyone even my gram gram (grandma’s mother) was home. That night the whole family came together, my uncles and their families came down to “the house” and pitched in and we had a big turkey dinner, better than Christmas, just days before.
Though this may have been the last time I’ve spent the night there, and I’ve lived in about 6 places since that winter blizzard, I still recall the warmth and unity our family had when we all came together during that time. I am grateful for the decision my mother made, for I have had a healthy, “normal” life. When I’m visiting the family these days, I stay in my own home, just down the road from “the house”. The house has changed since my days, the next generation of “kids” is growing strong. My cousins have families of their own and they’re making memories of their childhood. I am starting my new life in another country, and I am happy. I am building my new home to be as healthy and warm as I can. My last visit home was mostly to pick up the rest of my packed belongings, have a quick breakfast with grandma and grandpa and then a long drive home… to Washington.
Crystal Black
As I lay here, in another country, in my new home, I reflect back on all the places I have lived. At seven, I moved out of my grandparent’s home and away from my family, my mom moved up-island and I had to move with my dad. It was great, but at seven even I knew he had no clue, so I tried to make it easy for him. He was a chef and had a good job with a hotel chain. We lived in a one bedroom apartment across the street from school, near downtown Victoria. I was happy, but being an only child, I missed "the kids". "The kids" are my first cousins, and we all grew up together. My mom thought it was best for me if I lived with my dad because she wanted me to experience life outside of the paralyzing effects of alcoholism and destructive lifestyles on the reservation.
On long weekends and holidays my grandparents would come pick me up for a visit. My grandpa had many cars, but one particular one that I remember is his Monte Carlo, he loved it. I remember it had that old man, pine tree air freshener in there, mixed with the smell of his brylcreem. We would jam out to his oldies songs playing on this tape deck player and head home to Sidney. Sidney is where my grandfather grew up and where he raised his family. My mom and I still had a room at the house and would share it on our visits. Sometimes I would miss her by a week, but once in a while we would visit my grandparents on the same weekend. On those weekends my little world seemed to be all balanced out. I had my mom, my grandparents, and my cousins and I was home again. My grandparents have nice property, on the mountain, overlooking the airport through the trees. My three uncles have houses surrounding the main house and at night it gets so dark, you can’t even see your hand in front of you. Many wildlife come through the property and we have a family of owls that sing to us at night. The house has always been home even when I'd lived off in town with my dad.
One winter break, my mom came to pick me up from my dads and we went to my grandparents place. It was winter of '96/'97 and el nino created the perfect snow blizzard. It snowed steady and thick for a couple of days and when it was through we had almost 6 feet in some places. That's a lot for the northwest; it usually snows for a day then rains it all away. This time, everyone was stranded, not just us suburban folk from the mountain. On the second day of fallen snow, my mom and I went to get some groceries and whatever we might need for the next few days. The snow was getting so think that even taxi cabs were refusing to pick up anyone. At the grocery store, there was a woman standing outside with all of her groceries, she said she had been waiting for almost two hours for a cab. So we loaded her bags of eggo waffles, coffee, cat litter and groceries into my moms 4x4 bronco, and drove her home. We were the only ones on the highway and we knew we had to get home really quick. It continued to snow and as far as we knew nobody was going anywhere. We barely made it back to the house, even with great tires and four wheel drive. My grandpa had his fire blazing in the woodstove, tea was always ready, and everyone even my gram gram (grandma’s mother) was home. That night the whole family came together, my uncles and their families came down to “the house” and pitched in and we had a big turkey dinner, better than Christmas, just days before.
Though this may have been the last time I’ve spent the night there, and I’ve lived in about 6 places since that winter blizzard, I still recall the warmth and unity our family had when we all came together during that time. I am grateful for the decision my mother made, for I have had a healthy, “normal” life. When I’m visiting the family these days, I stay in my own home, just down the road from “the house”. The house has changed since my days, the next generation of “kids” is growing strong. My cousins have families of their own and they’re making memories of their childhood. I am starting my new life in another country, and I am happy. I am building my new home to be as healthy and warm as I can. My last visit home was mostly to pick up the rest of my packed belongings, have a quick breakfast with grandma and grandpa and then a long drive home… to Washington.
Crystal Black
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