Probation for abusing children?

I believe Lake County is making a big mistake by given a break to this predators. They should be treated as criminals and prosecuted as criminals. They need to be in Jail while they receive some kind of counseling but they shouldn't be free.
I heat to see how this prosecutors treat this people but if they were immigrants believe me they will be receiving long sentences and they will be transfered to INS immediately, it this fair?

Probation for a sex offender is a great miscarriage of justice. When we fail to protect our children, we fail...period. I am still waiting to see the follow up for a couple whose case was supposed to go to trial in January .... Molly Jensen (her name at the time) and her boyfriend at the time, Summers are both charged with Aggravated predatory sexual assault of a minor. I haven't seen a follow up on this yet and will be absolutely floored is either of them does not do time. Predatory Criminal sexual assault of a child by a "trusted" member of the family or a caregiver should be prosecuted to the fullest. Come on folks, lets get real. People do more time for traffic infractions than for sexual assault of a child. Maybe we need to vote some people - judges, prosecuter's etc. out of office. And maybe we should stop protecting the criminals and start protecting the children.

I agree with what the previous per said. ""When we fail to protect our children, we fail period."" Lake County's system should be run by Children, they could probably do a better job!!! People who prey on innocent children should never be allowed back in society in my opinion. Jail is a perfect place for them, and maybe they can get what they got coming to them. Over, and over again!!!! If you know what I mean.

Who doesn't agree that any criminal, expecially, sexual abusers, murderers and others, belongs in jail? The person who doesn't agree with that is a fool. However can that happen in all cases? Do we as a public know all that goes on in a courtroom. I know I don't. Should the victims and their families be aware? Absolutely and they have the right. Is it possible that a person maybe didn't acknowledge that right - of course there are always bad apples in any organization.

Would I want to be the person who distributes the punishment for someone who hurt a family memeber? Of course I would; but I can't be that person in a "just" system.

Court of Laws were established for a number of reasons and maybe we don't get everything we want but imagine life without a court of law in addition to the prosecutors and judges who manage those courts. Without courts would we be living in an eye for an eye world? There were days that I wish I lived in an eye for an eye world but most days I am glad for what we have. I am thankful that the justice system can look upon each case individually and although I don't always agree with the answer I know that in many cases I do. Before you ask - yes I was a victim of a crime. But, as referenced, in the article I am a survivor who has moved on.

And last but not least a private attorney (see the recommendation for the revised bill) as the prosecutor would not give more justice then a States Attonery it would end up causing the rich to have more justice than the poor. I agree; changes can be made to provide victims more rights.

So should convicted criminals be imprisoned for their crimes. Yes, can that happen in all cases, probably not? Am I 100% happy with the justice system? No but I would rather have a flawed system than a system geared to the rich or no system at all.

I agree predators need to be behind bars, but I also see a lot of innocent people being accused of this because it's something so easy to use to get back at someone with. This is getting out of control and needs to be stopped one way or another!

This is all to disgusting. I can tell you that two of my children were assaulted by a friend of mines teenage son. He received nothing more than 3 months of probation. How do you think my children felt. This is the system though. This male was found guilty so I do not fear any reprecutions that could possibly stem from this. I beleive that the system in Lake County let my children down and such I do not trust the justice system. It was found that because the male predator was 16 at the time that this happened he could not be tried as an adult. HOGWASH, (to be polite and not break any site regulations.) It took my husband, their father, and I to steer them out of depression and self blame. They were only 4 & 6 at the time of this abuse. Go LAKE COUNTY...let them all go free. That is one of the reasons we chose to move from this forsaken county. NO JUSTICE!

I have a question. In one of the articles on the front page. It stated that Illinois allows victims to express to the judge before sentencing how they feel about the plea bargain and they disagree. I have to make my impact victim statement on March 17th for Liz. I was told that I can only speak to the judge about the impact it has had on our family. I can not directly speak to Adam at all or discuss his sentencing. Does anyone know where I could find that in the Illinois statutes. The plea bargain that was made is totally wrong. We were told in the beginning because he had committed a capital crime murder during a robbery he would get life. Now they are talking 40 to 50 years, which brings this animal out at the age of 60 or 70. Stabbing my daughter 43 times justifies life in prison. Can someone help me. Thanks Gigi

Gigi. You seem to have some questions that a prosecutor can answer. Call that person directly and am sure you will get your questions answered. Am sure whatever statute you mentioned could be explained too. You almost sound like an attorney! If you are not clear on something you have to let it be known to the person handling your case. Am sorry to hear about your daughter.

I think it's a really sad commentary on this country and right now especially this state, to protect, comfort, and release these monsters back into society. I lost my precious daughter and granddaughter several years ago, and the hurt, the scars never, ever go away. What are " we " doing to our children. We won't defend them, and then we wonder why they grow up with so much baggage and so many emotional problems. We have made it impossible for our children to feel that they can trust us, because the truth is that they can't. Just as that predator has betrayed a helpless child, the uncaring, insensitive adults in the justice system continue to give those predators a "license" to continue harming innocent children. When will we FINALLY say that " ENOUGH IS ENOUGH "? Wake up, because one of these days, you too could find yourself in a position of helplessness.

I must say I agree with the person above that said this is being used more and more to get back at people. trust me I have children and I protect them with all I have.but I have heard of so may cases of people being falsely accused. So what happens then? Who pays the price then because it's always believed that the poor child. Ok I'm sure a 2 yr old wouldn't falsely accuse but what about 13.14.15.16???? I have seen it happen. So when the teenager makes up a story doesn't that make them just as bad? Just some food for thought. But if it's a true predator lock em up

Our justice system is so lenient for the preditors that judging by the growing number of incidences and brutality of some of these crimes on young children, the penalties are not harsh enough to stop the actions. The preditors know this and are willing to take the risk. I believe in cases where young children are involved, the heinousness of the crime and a person is found guilty, the penalty for this crime should be so harsh that I will not be reading about this type of abuse in the paper any longer. The penalty should be so harsh that people will think twice about taking the risk. If that means the death penalty . . . so be it. Our justice system is failing if I am reading practically every day about brutal attacks on people in the papers, especially children, not to mention the incidences you don't read about. Our society has become so numb to it we've come to not blinking an eye. Here's a news flash . . . this is unacceptable behavior and should not be tolerated at any cost. I should not be reading about this on a daily basis. Let's take the appropriate steps in our justice system to stop this, what we've come to accept, outrageous behavior from taking place any longer in our society. We need to protect our good and innocent citizens.

My heart aches for child victims and their families. Having said that, I have to ask why are we restricting the discussion to offenders? Why are we not looking at the maltreatment of children and the justice system response is a complex societal issue. To limit the scope of this discussion to one entity discounts the larger framework. Specific information such as, CDC data documenting that: Children younger than 4 years are at greatest risk of severe injury or death. In 2003, children younger than 4 years accounted for 79% of child maltreatment fatalities, with infants under 1 year accounting for 44% of deaths (DHHS 2005). Risk and Protective Factors: A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of child maltreatment. Again, are we really JUST talking about offender penalties or do we need to take an honest look at child welfare issues?