Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes’ refusal to name Orthodox Jewish child molesters prosecuted by his office has fueled a firestorm of community outrage.
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Naming the pervy perps, Hynes insists, would compromise victim confidentiality.
But critics say the secrecy keeps neighborhoods in the dark about child predators in their midst and panders to the politically powerful ultra-Orthodox.
“In a misguided attempt to be sensitive to the Jewish community, the DA works with its leaders to hide the shame of child-sex abuse from the world at all costs,” said Asher Lipner, a psychologist who treats sex-abuse survivors.
“To say you’re not disclosing the names of perpetrators to protect the victims just defies common sense,” said Ben Hirsch, president of Survivors for Justice. “Clearly the law supports the opposite: It requires those convicted to be on a sex-offender registry.”
Hynes’ office refuses to release criminal complaints and indictments in all sex-crime cases, spokesman Jerry Schmetterer said, to shield victims’ names from view as required by state law.
But DA offices in the other boroughs said they routinely release the public records after redacting the victims’ names.
The Brooklyn DA, meanwhile, routinely issues press releases on non-Orthodox sex offenders, including last week’s announcement of a prison sentence for Gerald Hatcher, who raped his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter.
Schmetterer said Hatcher’s name was released because reporters had gotten wind of the case.
He should only release the names of the Orthodox molesters?
I’m sorry, but as a gentile I’m a little offended by this!
Why should these perverts get special treatment just because they are Jewish?! I understand the Jewish community is tight-knit, etc. But that’s one of the MAIN reasons why people need to know if there’s a predator amongst them!
Not to mention, if a gentile molested a child, his name would be plastered all over the local news, he’d have to sign up on a sex-offenders watch list if he ever wanted to live in another neighborhood again, he’d have to go to court, he’d be on the local media, there would be no “special treatment” for him, just because maybe the person is important or whatever!
Look at Jerry Sandusky! Everyone covered up his crimes because of WHO HE WAS! An important football figure at Penn State, etc.
But once the word got *OUT* about him & he was brought up on serious charges & people weren’t protecting his name anymore… he did a “perp walk” down to the station just like anyone else, he was finger-printed & led away in handcuffs just like anyone else & he’s now facing serious criminal charges… just like anyone else! And rightfully so!
This is how it is SUPPOSED to be!
Why are we protecting them?!
I can understand why the DA might keep non-convicted offenders out of the public; but once they have been convicted that information should be public record. Anyone could probably access that information unless the records are sealed.
Either way, “Megan’s Law” (the catchall name for the relevant state and federal laws) requires that this information be public and updated. There are even websites that provide this information, thus forever shaming these people and their heinous crimes.
Of course this works both ways – there are convicted sex offenders whose only crime is under-aged relations with their consenting girlfriend, which is often considered statutory rape for him, and less often for her. These offenders too, if prosecuted may (unfairly) forever be branded as sex offenders and tracked by these Megan’s law websites.
I am not sure how by not divulging the names of persons that have abused children protect the victims. Is it not possible that those who were convicted of abuse, abuse again and by knowing their name it’s possible to eliminate repeat offenders. The DA should not treat the Jewish community any different than it does other communities. The real shame our community faces is not dealing with this directly and with decisiveness.
Kudos to you for this report. The Frum community is entitled to know who the perverts in their midst are, regardless of their status – On the contrary, if they are public figures, it is even more important to publicize them so people cam protect their children. Keep up the good work.
The suggestion in this posting is preposterous, and speaks ill of the accusers. No DA has the authority to withhold those convicted of sexual crimes from the registry, nor does a judge. Often, for lack of testimony, prosecutors opt to plea bargain for a non-sexual offense to get at least a conviction. This can result in no jail time, and does not qualify for the registry. That’s the system that these same critics push to approach to report all accusations of abuse. Just like the frum community’s flawed systems, the court and police don’t achieve perfection.
Meanwhile, we readers need to observe the “critics” who run to the media instead of working “with” the systems to improve them. What’s their agenda?
There is no storm, a couple of peole are furious, maybe, don’t make it look bigger & scarier then it acctualy is.
they are running to the media because they feel the “system” is stonewalling them and not giving them the appropriate time of day. You understand?
Under what circumstances may the DA withold the name of a person convicted of a sex crime?
Seems as if only the Forward and Jewish week are furious. If the victims would want the perpetrators’ names announced, all they have to do is announce it in shul. How many perpetrators were handed in by their own friends and family under the condition that their names remain anonymous?
I do not understand the legality of the district attorney being selective and hence discriminatory about whose names will and will not be disclosed. In two recent cases that garnered national attention, more alleged victims have come forward, greatly increasing the chances of successful prosecution. One would think that those indicted for alleged sexual abuse should not be shielded simply because they wear orthodox garb or someone claims they are orthodox.
I honestly believe that he CAN’T release the names because there are no names to release. He hasn’t prosecuted any orthodox perps other than the ones known to the media. Everything he has told the reporters is all hype to give some semblance that his office is actually doing their job.
Kudos to you for this report. The Frum community is entitled to know who the perverts in their midst are, regardless of their status – On the contrary, if they are public figures, it is even more important to publicize them so people cam protect their children. Keep up the good work.
Subpeona the Rabbonim who have been covering up.
Typical inaccurate article from the filthy NY Post.
I’m no fan of DA Hynes , but to criticize him for not publicizing “SUSPECTED” molesters is absurd,
the article alludes to a Mr Hatcher , a non Orthodox whose name was publicized, well he was “CONVICTED” don’t you realize the tremendous difference ???
Also please note that an indictment is merely a legal term for an official accusation, it does NOT mean that there is ANY proof to the accusation..
The fact is, that the DA is well aware that contrary to the belief of most people on VIN, a large # of molestation charges turn out to be bogus (divorce , money etc. ) Therefore isn’t so keen to publicize suspected molesters.
And to those who are very concerned that convicted proven molesters are being protected , nothing is further from the truth as the law requires a convicted molester to register, his name is public record
I understand why Rabbis don’t want these suspects should go public as they will be judged guilty right away thus killing off the suspect and his whole family, before it is even proven that the crime was actually commited. How many times have innocent people been accused of terrible crimes because of unfounded and horrible lies! Unfortunately we have even a website where some lowlife daily updates the. (Orthodox)world with horrible stories of so called molesters etc when about 90 percent is untrue. As sad/bbad as it is none of us is guaranteed that such a molester doesn’t lurk in our own communities/families, who are really not to blame, so really the best advice Would beis warn your kids of these dangers just as we do with every thing else
As yidden we pay a price
Even though it is perfectly logical to report such people
And I understand why people are so interested in doing so
Out Torah still says not like that.
How ever I have no doubt that under the right leadership we could work this out by ourselves amongst us.
Even though we have had little succes in this topic so far.
All you have to do it go to the New York State Department of Justice Website and type in your zip code. That’s how someone in my Brooklyn shul found out that one of the “machers” was in reality a thrice convicted rapist (including a minor). The rov of the shul threw a tantrum when the information was released. This rov had this “macher” at his shabbos table with his little children, I guess he was more angry at the messenger than the danger he was putting his children in.
Thank you VIN for being the sunshine that brings light and disinfectant to the poisons of our community. Yeshar koach!
Sorry, if you are guilty of something especially anything to do with kids, you MUST BE TRIED in a COURT OF LAW by a jury of your peers!! You live in the USA– you follow its Laws!! You live in France– you follow its laws!! You cannot hide under your bed!! The guilt will eat you up!! How can you people live with yourselves?? KNOWING WHAT YOU DID!! Shame on you!! Get help!!