ALLEN PARISH, LA (KPLC) – “I don’t like seeing people leaving an adjacent parish to come here as a sex offender because it’s more affordable, which is what I’m trying to say,” said Allen Parish Chief Deputy Ricky Johnson. It happened first in Lake Charles, then in Sulphur, a raise in sex offender registration rates. And now, Allen Parish officials say they are feeling the effects of those decisions.
“It’s not a mass exodus from Calcasieu Parish, but we’ve had a few sex offenders that came to Allen Parish and they basically voiced to our sex offender registry people who keep up with that, Lieutenant Turner, that the reason they’re leaving Calcasieu Parish is that the fees are too high,” Johnson said. Full Article
*** UPDATE Oct 9 ***
Allen Parish to raise sex offender fees
OBERLIN — The Allen Parish Police Jury has agreed to increase registration fees for convicted sex offenders living in the parish.
An ordinance adopted by the Police Jury on Monday will boost sex offenders’ registration fees from $60 to $100 annually. A one-time initial fee of $400 will be charged for newly convicted offenders and those moving into the parish for the first time. Full Article
This is utter BS.. its a special tax focused on a portion of the population…. I don’t see anyone else applying this to any other “criminal” element…
What do you expect from the poorest AND most uneducated population in the country. Louisiana should pay people to move into the state…anyone really. Can’t understand why anyone would want to live with those backward people.
That being said, this is a clear example of forcing a population into a group against their will and then charging them a year fee to be a member! As the poster above said, this is utter BS! Just more ongoing PUNISHMENT for a crime which has ALREADY been paid for.
A FEE is money I elect to pay for a service or privilege I CHOOSE to utilize. Like choosing to renew my drivers license in order to legally operate a vehicle. Like a Costco membership so I can go shop at their stores.
Moneys ordered to pay as a consequence of a criminal or illegal action, under the threat of prosecution – with zero recourse, are a FINE. Like the fine paid for speeding on the freeway or littering on the street.
A FINE is part of the sentence, a punishment for a transgression. A fine required AFTER sentencing has been imposed and punishment has been served is EX POST FACTO punishment. Ex Post Facto punishment is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
It is really not that complicated.