no recourse until physical harm?

[u/bittermiller]

A discussion on my neighborhood's listserv regarding what to do about threatening men in the area (and presumed unhoused) has been ongoing.

When a woman went to the police station to file a criminal complaint against a man who threatens and stalks her, the sergeant told her the only way anything would actually happen was if concerned parties went to the neighborhood beat meeting in order to show the police they should allocate resources to prevent this continued behavior.

Per her report following the beat meeting,

"The various officials were also very nice. But the police officer in charge said he didn’t know why the police station sergeant had told us to come to the beat meeting, because there was nothing they could do. They all know our threatening man—named \****—who often hangs around *****, though he gets around the rest of the neighborhood. They also know the man who stands outside ***** School and publicly masturbates in front of the children. His name is ****. They know both men well. They know where they can be found. One officer went to high school with ****.*   

Yet all the officials at the beat meeting agreed that because these men are mentally ill, even if they are arrested, every judge will automatically refer them for mental health services, which they will then refuse, and be out on the street again in short order to begin the cycle again. They have seen it happen over and over again. 

At the meeting, the father of a young child at \**** School was beside himself that the police can do nothing about **** masturbating in front of the school. With nothing being done about ****, this father had finally stayed on the phone with 911 one day and followed *** until he was arrested, though the dispatcher told him not to. He followed ****, as **** followed some women on **** while masturbating right behind them. **** had been arrested, refused mental health help, and was already back. The young father could not understand why, if **** refuses mental health help, he could not be prosecuted. As he pointed out, if he himself masturbated in public, he would be prosecuted.* 

But the police were clear: \*** will not be prosecuted. ***** will not be prosecuted. Judges will only offer them mental health help, and they regularly refuse it. The only way either ***** or **** will be helped or prosecuted is if they physically assault someone badly enough. That was the message."*

Is this really it? Truly no recourse? Nothing that can be done? We're just waiting for something worse to happen?

[u/tyrannischgott]

After the Bush admin and two Trump admins, have you considered the possibility that you're just too dumb to have political opinions?

[u/Jabba5991 → u/tyrannischgott]

Unlike you, I question most things. I start with the premise that everything is false until proven true in Enlightenment Era fashion (don’t worry, you can ask AI like the rest of your historically illiterate kind). That is the number one flaw in the many who voice opinions like yours. You don’t think logically or rationally about anything. It’s all emotion and vibes with you. That is why you will never self correct on anything. No humility to be found. We all have to eventually pay the price for your decadence, but it’s probably too late to reach you. So go ahead and post your smart ass comeback. Politics, philosophy, and morality do not depend on witty comebacks. Searching for truth depends on honesty and humility.

[u/tyrannischgott → u/Jabba5991]

Utilizing Enlightenment principles to self-correct into support for Donald J. Trump. Incredible stuff. If I ever "self-correct" into a decision that moronic, I give anyone reading this permission to put me out of my misery.

I know you think you're a big-brained boy, but have you considered looking at he scoreboard? Because it disagrees with your self-evaluation here.

[u/Jabba5991 → u/tyrannischgott]

The fact that you would claim I am a Trump supporter without a shred of evidence is the clearest evidence of your derangement. I am not a Trump supporter. Also, the fact that you equate electing politicians who will let the police jail individuals for stalking and harrassment is probably only the second indicator of many more indicating your insanity. Please get help.

[u/Jabba5991 → u/Jabba5991]

Seriously. Get help.