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Discussion : Crackdown on Molesters
Discussion is closed !1-15 > 16-30> Total 19 comments
2005-05-23 11:22:12 -
A Challenge to Our Nation
throw away the key. Kill them all, register them. List them on public registries. Keep them joblFear them. Run them out of town. Lock them up and ess, homeless and hopeless.
Americans can build a smart bomb that will demolish a target and leave surrounding structures undamaged but we do not have the knowledge and the skills to treat sex offenders. Perhaps it is lack of will rather than lack of skill.
I challenge our government, on any at all levels, to recognize the constitutional rights afforded each citizen under the Constitution of the United States. If the government abandons and deprives any citizen of constitutional rights, should the government continue to expect the payment of taxes to support a government that does not support the citizen? Remember, our nation was built on phrases like, “No taxation without representation!”
Many judges have ruled that the registration of sex offenders does NOT violate civil rights and does NOT constitute further punishment we are aware that is a myth. Another myth is that registration keeps a community safer. There is no proof that registration, also know as Megan's Law, has prevented a single incident. I challenge the government, on any and all levels, to deny the truth of that statement. It cannot be done.
However, there is ample proof that registration has caused serious bodily injuries and, in many cases, death. A wealth of personal information has been turned over to a public who is not equipped to deal with it. Citizens are not police officers, so I challenge the government on any and all levels, to give some intelligent answers as to why individuals are placed at the mercy of a hysteria driven mob mentality.
I challenge the government, on any and all levels, to produce proof that recidivism rates have decreased due to registration. I further challenge the government, on any and all levels to close down public registration. Proof as to the uselessness of such a burdensome project will be evident in the numbers. The recidivism rate will not rise. In fact, it may drop since individuals on the registries will not be placed in a position of desperation.(con't)
2005-05-23 08:55:17 -
I believe that sex offender registries not only provide a false sense of security to the public, but that they are unconstitutional. DOJ reports indicate a recidivism rate of less than 5.4% among SOs. Compare this with the more than 50% recidivism rate of Drunk Drivers. Why aren't drunk drivers registered? Why aren't their faces flaunted on the Internet? Why are they not placed on GPS monitoring? Do they not pose a greater threat to the safety and welfare of our children than the measley 5.4% of SOs that recidivate?
Part of the problem with the registry is that it perpetuates the perceived myth that all SOs are predators lurking in the bushes waiting to attack and kill children. This is a clear misrepresentation of the facts. The evidence is that the vast majority of sex offenders are, IN FACT, not murderers.
IF the public really wants to protect our children, then we need to register murderers... but THEY aren't registered, or online. We need to register gangsters, drug dealers and drunk drivers... but they aren't online!
Where will these registries end? Through attempting to prognosticate the future we would have to concede that NO ONE is truely incapable of commiting a crime. Where do you draw the line? Corporate polluters that are poisoning our drinking water and air and killing our children? Manufacturers that produce unsafe toys?
The hysteria surrounding sex offenders is just that... hysteria! The vast majority of these individuals have made a stupid mistake that could be as simple as streaking, urinating in public, falling in love with your teenage girlfriend, or perpetuating the generational dysfunction of incestuous behavior. And for this we want to label them ALL as predators for the rest of their lives. And what will that result in? Homelessness... hmmm, now that sounds like a safe solution!
2005-05-16 16:11:59 -
I agree with the comments by Betty Price. Many people on the sex offender registry pose no threat to children. Many were convicted of statutory rape, which simply means an 18 year old boy was caught having sex with his 15 year old girlfriend. Even though she consented, the legal age for consent is 16. I'm sorry, but that boy poses no threat to young girls.
I live near Cincinnati, Ohio, and just recently neighbors found out a sex offender lived in their neighborhood. They raised $20,000 to get him to move out. His offenses didn't even involve a child - he posed no threat to any children, but people just assumed he was a child molester because he's a sex offender.
His offense was almost 10 years earlier (and involved his ex-wife), and he has not been in any trouble since then. They had this poor guy's picture all over the news, causing his family major humiliation, and possibly even the loss of his job. He finally did move out because he feared for his children's safety from neighborhood kids.
The registries were intended to protect children, but a majority of those on the registry pose no threat to children, and as a result the registries cause unfounded hysteria. Changes need to be made so that police, media, neighbors, etc. can focus on those that are at risk to children.
A local talk show radio program (Willie Cunningham on 700 WLW) had people calling in saying all sex offenders should be killed. A local political figure said they should all be moved to Mars. It's ridiculous!
2005-05-10 09:42:29 -
Florida is creating so much hysteria over the deaths of two precious angels it is ludicrous. What society, the media, the legislature and Governor Bush need to remember is that the TWO persons who allegedly murdered these two children are not every sex offender in the Nation. The U.S. Dept. of Justice released a report in November 2003 stating the recidivism rate is 5.3% for sex offenders. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rsorp94.htm This rate is lower than any other crime.
If Megans Law were to be taken back to its original intent, which is to track Violent Sexual Predators, the registries would be more manageable for law enforcement. If we were to take all of the non violent former offenders off the registries, which are convictions for public urination, exhibitionism, nudism, streaking, flashing, mooning, consensual sex, internet child porn and one time non violent offenders generally of a familial nature, we would see that this hysteria is unfounded. Due to the high numbers of persons on the registry our Government is giving its citizens a false sense of security with all of the "feel good" get me more votes, legislation.
It is a parents major job to supervise their children. This should be considered each parents most important job. If parents would supervise their children on a constant basis we would see much less crime against children by strangers.
The Center for Sex Offender Managament http://www.csom.org/pubs/mythsfacts.html states that 80% of girls and 60% of boys are offended by a person known to them. This is not stranger danger. The reason society thinks their children are at such a high risk is that the only media interest is in the high profile cases. Little Jessica was abducted in February, the news is still broadcasting this and the other two recent cases constantly. This makes it appear to parents that their children are at risk by a stranger and a convicted sex offender. While these murders were definitely horrid it is time to let these children rest in peace.
The Bill of Rights guarantees all U.S. citizens life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Former Sex Offenders and their families do not have these rights. They are denied any civil rights in this nation. Former sex offenders are denied due process and protection from ex post facto laws. These are Constitutional amendments that are supposed to be followed by our Government. Our officials are getting by with this by saying these laws are not punitive. Trust me when I say these laws are definitely punitive. States are punishing former sex offenders with registration requirements from ten years to life. There are churches that banish former sex offenders. We all know God is a loving and forgiving God. Will this Nation ever follow the Christian concept of love and forgiveness for all?
Betty Price
S.O.S.E.N. Representative
http://www.sosen.org
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