Vermont released Jacques early

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The state government of Vermont is really earning their reputation as being child molester friendly.

It was released yesterday that the Department of Corrections in Vermont recommended an early release for Michael Jacques. The same Michael Jacques who in 1993 kidnapped and sexually assaulted an underage girl. The same Michael Jacques who is Brooke Bennett’s uncle and the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Judge Amy Davenport approved the early release for Jacques in 2006, seven years early.

Now I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that but you would think that any state government in this country would want a violent sex offender like Jacques to serve out his entire sentence.

Comments

26 responses to “Vermont released Jacques early”

July 12, 2008

Mrs Garda

I’m never going to vermont. that just makes me really wonder about that judge’s extracurricular activities, if you know what I mean.

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July 12, 2008

Diane W

Trench, you are exactly right. Vermont is essentially a safe haven for child molesters and rapists.

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July 13, 2008

Christine

As someone who lives in VT, I abhor the idea that so many judge with so little information. The reality is that one of the reasons this crime received so much coverage is simply because these kinds of crimes are SO rare in VT. This was VT’s first amber alert EVER. As for Jacques, his prior conviction was not on rape of a minor, but on an “adult.” She was 18 at the time. While I also find it reprehensible that this monster received early release, this was an isolated incident and could have happened anywhere. Those claiming Jessica’s Law would have prevented this elsewhere, are simply wrong. Jessica’s law would not have applied because the victim was not legally a minor. Jacques likely would have received early release in almost every state. Please do not condemn an entire state which actually has one of the very LOWEST violent crime rates in the country because of a single incident.

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July 13, 2008

Christine

This is just an FYI for those who seem to believe that VT is such a haven for molesters. VT ranked as the 2nd safest state in the country from violent crimes in 2005, and only 3rd in 2006 (more recent rankings are not yet posted). It remains one of the very safest places in the country to raise children. You can look up your state rankings here. http://www.morganquitno.com/dangsaf06.htm

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July 13, 2008

Laurie

Christine – I can understand why you find it distressful to think sexual predators live in VT. But, they live all over the place.

The database only lists those we know about.

This is not an isolated incident – it happens everyday in our country, every day in every state.

Jacques also raped his younger sister, and impregnated her. The charges were dropped.

Jessica’s law may have prevented Brooke’s murder, because Jacques would have still been in prison, or should have been if he was sentenced correctly, especially after sexually abusing his sister.

Jessica’s law mandates a minimum of 25 years, and then GPS monitoring. I am not sure whether this permits early release – I don’t think it does.

i live in NY and we have Jessica’s law. We also have strict and intensive supervision for all offenders when they are released. What exactly that means I am not sure. It sounds good anyway –

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July 13, 2008

Laurie

Christine – The web page does not list sexual abuse of minors as one of its crimes – it does include rape.

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July 13, 2008

Christine

Laurie, Fair enough. Try here. 🙂 http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/15640124?limit_…
I wouldn’t move to Texas though.

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July 13, 2008

Christine

Laurie,

His conviction was not for the relationship with the minor, it was for the rape of an 18 year old, so Jessica’s law would not have applied. I have read a huge amount about this case, and there is nothing written about why the case was dropped for the other incident. And I never said sexual predators do not exist in VT, I teach in public schools and KNOW they exist everywhere. When I stated that this was an isolated incident, I was reminding people that a single incident is not a trend or pattern. Now, if VT’s violent crime or child molestation stats suddenly soared, I would be the first one to agree that there was a huge problem. As it stands, VT remains one of the very lowest states for both violent crime and child molestation, both by straight numbers and by per capita. This was a horrific incident, however it is not representative of the overall safety of children within the state of Vermont.

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July 13, 2008

Laurie

Christine – take a look at the grade for compliance with the Sex Offender Registry – I do believe that VT has a low grade, meaning, VT is not complying with the law.
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.com/html/
links.lasso

If the stats you provided the link for is valid, then we need to look at what the states with the low numbers are doing.

Me being me (and also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse from the age of about 5 1/2 to 7 years by a neighbor), who was abused in the state of Delaware, I find it hard to believe there are only a couple in that state.

I think the stats are invalid – according to the Megans law website, Delaware has 2,961 number of registered sex offenders, while the link you provided reports 1965. For VT, there are a total of 2226 according to the Megans Law website, and the link you provided reports only 281. Hmmmm……

I am trying to find information on the original conviction and sentence. I find it hard to believe that he was released from ‘probation’ in 2006 – That doesn’t seem right to me….on probation for a brutal rape. I did find the details of the assault, and it must have been terrifying for the victim. If he only received a few years in prison, that is an outrage.

And, unless my math is totally off, if he was convicted in 1993, with a minimum of 25 years in prison for rape, he would still be in there. At least under Jessica’s law, he would be.

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July 15, 2008

Pat

Laurie:

You are confused about Jessica’s law requirements. Jacques would NOT still be monitored and Jessica’s law would not have had any impact on his case. The victim in the case that he was convicted of was 18 years old – Jessica’s law only applies to victims 12 and under. As for the rape of his sister – he was never charged or convicted. So again, Jessica’s law would not have applied in that instance either.

I don’t know where you reside now, but until you live here in Vermont where you know your neighbors, your neighbors children, your neighbors relatives, you cannot possibly understand what Christine is trying to tell you. I know what kind of car my neighbor drives for crying out loud. When my neighbor (who is an elderly woman who lives alone) leaves her outside lights on for constantly for 3 days, I report that to the police to make sure she is not inside needing help.

This is not something that is in our local newspapers everyday, on our local news every day. This just doesn’t happen here which I think is partially why this case has received the coverage that it has.

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July 15, 2008

Laurie

Pat – thank you – Jessica’s law is for children under 12. I only wish it was for any woman, period.

I live in NY. We have rural small towns as well.
When towns have lesser numbers, it just means to me that there are less offenders. Think about the statistics….

VT has sex offenders (thousands) and should have better laws to keep them off the streets. Just like every other state should. We are not doing enough.

I understand the point you and Christine are trying to make – it is part of the ‘big blue elephant’ that none of us talks about.

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July 15, 2008

Little ol&#039 me

Uhhh.. pat.. sorry to burst your bubble there but knowing your neighbors car? Isn’t that big of an accomplishment. I could prolly name my neighbors cars in my last three residences. If it’s something in their driveway everyday, whoopdeedoo that you remember it. It bothers me how many people are ‘I know my neighbors, we don’t have criminals here.’ So many criminals committ crimes with neighbors saying ‘but he was the nicest guy on the block’ or, ‘who woulda ever thought he would do something like that.’ You can never think you know everyone on the block that well and, you definately can’t talk for the entire state. Are you saying everyone in VT knows every neighbor and there’s no bad part of town?

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July 15, 2008

Little ol&#039 me

Uhhh.. pat.. sorry to burst your bubble there but knowing your neighbors car? Isn’t that big of an accomplishment. I could prolly name my neighbors cars in my last three residences. If it’s something in their driveway everyday, whoopdeedoo that you remember it. It bothers me how many people are ‘I know my neighbors, we don’t have criminals here.’ So many criminals committ crimes with neighbors saying ‘but he was the nicest guy on the block’ or, ‘who woulda ever thought he would do something like that.’ You can never think you know everyone on the block that well and, you definately can’t talk for the entire state. Are you saying everyone in VT knows every neighbor and there’s no bad part of town?

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July 15, 2008

Mrs Garda

Exactly. I come from a very small town where we know EVERYONE around us and yet there was a pedophile in our midst. Only 201 people in our population and there was at least one that wasnt on the registry, and two more that I grew -up- with and -were- on the registry. So the whole “Oh we know our neighbors” thing doesnt fly. You have no idea what’s going on in Mr Smith’s head at night or WHO he’s thinking about, even if you grew up with him.

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July 16, 2008

Pat

I am NOT attempting to speak for the whole state. Some of the early posts were making it sound as though Vermont in and of itself is bad, filled with the likes of Michael Jacques on every corner. I was simply trying to point out that having lived in the State of Vermont my whole life in small towns, I don’t believe this is a case of “normalcy” in Vermont.

I believe, again from having lived here, that cases like this are rare here. Whether or not there are sex offenders in Vermont, I do not dispute. However, I do not think Vermont suffers the same rate of crimes related to sex offenders as other states.

As far as the neighbors go: when you live in a small rural town where you only have three neighbors to start with the fact that I know my neighbors routine well enough to be concerned when something is not right is was I was referencing. How many stories have you heard where someone is hurt or dead in their own house and no one knows for days or weeks because the neighbors don’t know each other and frankly don’t care? That sort of thing doesn’t happen here.

As far as laws relating to sex offenders: Vermont does need to do some revamping, there is no doubt in my mind. But can’t you say that about our country as a whole? If you have a criminal sex offender in any community, safety is an issue regardless of what laws or protections you have in place. If a criminal wants to be a criminal and do horrible things, just what are you going to do to stop them? Personally, for safety purposes, I am glad I know my neighbors car and her routine and I am glad that I can call for help if she needs it. And you?

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July 16, 2008

Christine

I was initially responding to the comments from Mrs. Garda and Diane which made it sound as though VT was some kind of safe haven for sex offenders and that they were crawling out of the woodwork in the state. The reality is that actual criminal statistics do NOT support this. I was NEVER saying that they don’t exist in VT, nor was anyone esle on the board. However, I do believe (and crime statistics overwhelingly support this belief) that children are generally much safer in VT than in most places in the country.
When Pat writes about knowing neighbors, I understand her point. Yes, I know my neighbors. I know their kids, I know their mothers and fathers. I know they all watch our for my child, as I do theirs. Is it possible that there is a pedophile in the mix? Of course it is, however there are always other parents present. The environment is different than places where there are high crime rates in that neighbors here are still very connected to each other.
I have lived in other places, I am not speaking from a position of ignorance. I am a teacher in public schools, I do know and understand the the realities of abuse. I am not wearing rose colored glasses, but I can read crime stats. I can understand that VT has only had ONE amber alert ever. I agree thatmore needs to be done to fight sexual abuse, but knee-jerk reactions to a single incident are not going to solve the problem.

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July 16, 2008

Christine

Here’s another: http://www.familywatchdog.us/OffenderCountByState…

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July 16, 2008

Pat

Thanks Christine.

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July 17, 2008

Laurie

These stats on family watch dog do not match the parents for megan’s law site statistics, I wonder where we can get ‘real’ numbers?

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July 25, 2008

Paul

How violent a state is is directly proportionate to its minority population so i am sure Vt has none.

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July 25, 2008

Laurie

What are you talking about Paul?

Vt has plenty of violence and plenty of sex offenders and predators – they just don’t know about it, talk about it, or acknowledge it.

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July 25, 2008

Laurie

And, from what we see on TV, and websites like this, the majority of predators or pedophiles that are arrested, seem to be white males. Wonder what that means?

Ever watch the show, “To catch a predator?” Seems like it is the white mans problem….overall.

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July 25, 2008

Christine

Laurie, Can I ask why you seem so completely intent on insisting that we are all wrong? I’ve lived in VT for 20 years, I can say without any doubt whatsoever that it is generally the safest place I know. I read stats, I work in schools which follow stats closely, we certainly talk about secual abuse, and we acknowledge it’s presence. Nobody on this board has denied it’s existance. They have simply tried to explain what the statistics show, that the problem is less pervasive in Vermont than in most parts of the country. You refuse to believe multiple sources of stats which have no reason for bias, in favor of a single source (which has a motive for making the situation sound worse than it might be). Clearly you are entitled to your own opinion, however don’t assume that others are ignorant of the truth. I am not in denial. I simply have more faith in actual statistical realities and personal and professional knowledge.

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July 25, 2008

Christine

Paul, For what it is worth, mine is a transracial family…in Vermont. 🙂

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July 25, 2008

Laurie

Why is it ‘wrong’ that VT has sexual offenders, predators, and domestic violence, just like every other state in this nation? VT is no different than any other state.

If VT crime is so low, then we really need to take a look at what you are doing, and learn from it.

But, according to the Parents for Megan’s law website, VT has over 2k offenders. Not sure of the details of all of these ‘offenders’, because VT does not track them on the database.

Just because VT has these types of ‘people’ – criminals, does not mean it is a ‘bad’ state. Just makes it a part of the US – but this is not even unique to the US – it’s all over the place. Sorry if that bursts your bubble about the kind of world we live in today.

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July 25, 2008

Laurie

Christine – I am really not trying to prove anybody wrong, I am trying to let everybody know, that sex offenders come in all shapes, sizes, religions, colors, live in all types of neighborhoods, rural and cities, have all types of careers, and can earn lots of money, or no money.

I apologize if I come across like I am trying to prove someone wrong – it is frustration from what I hear – people like to believe that there are no sex offenders where they live. I guess it really does depend on the population and how many people you let in your life. But, just because you don’t think you personally know an offender, does not make it so.

Racially speaking, it seems that more white males participate than any other race – at least on that program (“to catch a predator’), those are the ones dumb enough to go on the internet and try to hook up. A lot of the predators reported here (on this website) are white males…

Don’t know the exact statistics for this crime as far as race or ethnicity is concerned (or the variances in types of sexual assault). Some races, culturally speaking, have stringent norms that do not include discussing or disclosing sexual abuse or assault.

If you take the time to view the Vermont registry, Will you be shocked to learn that some of the predators, convicted of multiple sexual assaults, are no longer supervised?

I laugh *sarcasm* when we create laws restricting where sex offenders can live (not near schools), what a joke. Can they walk? Can they drive? What about a shopping mall, or a store, or a library? Aren’t there children there as well? The local swimming pool?

It actually leaves me feeling very sad, very sad indeed. Instead of creating laws that are not enforced, and laws that really do nothing for the problem except change the plan, we need better education and treatment programs.

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