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| Florida's Officials Looking to Prevent Inmates from Using Internet to Find Companionship |
| By BayNews9.com |
| Published: 08/05/2003 |
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Meet William Coday. The 46-year-old Florida resident speaks four languages, loves to cook, and is looking for a meaningful relationship. Coday is also a resident of Florida's death row. He was convicted of killing his former girlfriend with a hammer in 1997. Coday is also one of hundreds of prison inmates from across the country that are soliciting women through personal advertisements on the Internet. Tuesdi Fenter is the community relations director at The Spring in Tampa, a group that works with abuse victims. The practice has her more than a little concerned. 'It certainly alarms us,' Fenter said. 'Not that these can't be healthy relationships, but you do have to wonder when the person could possibly be in [prison] because of domestic violence.' Hillsborough County resident Judy Cornett is also more than a little unhappy about the fact that prison inmates are using the Internet to communicate with potential victims on the outside. Her son was the victim of a sexual assault over 10 years ago. 'You can't tell by looking at these guys whose a pedophile and who's not,' Cornett said. 'Look at Kevin Kinder; he didn't look like a pedophile.' Kinder is the man that was convicted of assaulting Cornett's son. Cornett claims Kinder uses his computer in an attempt to find more victims. For that reason, she feels all prisoners should be banned from using the Internet to place personal ads. The potentially anonymity of the advertisements makes them dangerous and Cornett doesn't think the practice should be allowed. 'There's no telling who these guys are or where they are,' she said. Officials with the Florida Department of Corrections agree with Cornett. They've already banned all inmates from using the Internet, but unfortunately some of the web sites get around that by forwarding the prisoners their email addresses so they can continue to place the ads. Beginning August 5th, all prisoners will be banned from placing ads. If they are caught violating the rule, they can receive disciplinary action such as a loss of gain time. |
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