What makes sexual offenders worse than other felons?

[Sidestreamer]

This is something I always wondered since the sex offender registries became so popular.

You have a convicted, say, robber or drug dealer get some harsh sentence. Maybe ten or twenty. They serve part of their time, they're paroled and they're free. Time served, all that's left is the fact that they're convicted felons and can't vote or own a gun ever again.

You have a convicted, say, pedophile possessing kiddie porn get a harsh sentence, whatever they normally get. They serve (usually) all of their time, they're released... into a forced program that amounts to extra prison time. Once that's done, they're forever on the sexual offender registry. For several years, possibly for life, they have to go on a registry, are permanently banned from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a playground, a city park, or a day care center. They can't even decorate their homes for Christmas or Halloween because it could lure children. In some jurisdictions they have to also advertise prominently that they are sex offenders on their front lawns and must tell all their neighbors what they are, and then they must regularly visit the police station and tell them where they work, live, when they're going out of town, etc.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this.

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

[PredFan]

You have a convicted, say, robber or drug dealer get some harsh sentence. Maybe ten or twenty. They serve part of their time, they're paroled and they're free. Time served, all that's left is the fact that they're convicted felons and can't vote or own a gun ever again.

You have a convicted, say, pedophile possessing kiddie porn get a harsh sentence, whatever they normally get. They serve (usually) all of their time, they're released... into a forced program that amounts to extra prison time. Once that's done, they're forever on the sexual offender registry. For several years, possibly for life, they have to go on a registry, are permanently banned from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a playground, a city park, or a day care center. They can't even decorate their homes for Christmas or Halloween because it could lure children. In some jurisdictions they have to also advertise prominently that they are sex offenders on their front lawns and must tell all their neighbors what they are, and then they must regularly visit the police station and tell them where they work, live, when they're going out of town, etc.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this.

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

IMO, it's because Sexual offenses are a sickness and often a compulsion. Murder and drug dealing isn't. Except for serial killers but they usually don't get paroled.

Having said that, I don't believe that all people on sex offenders lists deserve to be there. It has gotten a little hysterical, imo. I have heard, and I don't know for sure that this is true, that if you take your clothes off in, say, a college prank, and go running into the middle of a football game, you can be listed as a sex offender in some states. I also have read or heard, that if you are a male under the age of 18, and you have sex, even consentual sex, with a woman under the age of 18, you too can be labeled a sex offender.

But as to your OP, I believe it's because of the urge and compulsion that sex offenders have that puts them under this kind of scrutiny.

[traditional_woman]

Pedophilia sex crimes will ALWAYS carry a harsher stigma. Heck I think any crime involving children will, b/c you are taking their innocence away and robbing them of a childhood.

[BillBrown]

Because sex offender registration is popular with the public.
Legislators cast votes to get reelected.

I think anyone convicted of a crime against property or person should be registered.

[mgifford]

Because sex offender registration is popular with the public.
Legislators cast votes to get reelected.

I think anyone convicted of a crime against property or person should be registered.

The big problem with the "registry" tho, is that some offenders can't live at home when they have females in their house. Some can't live at home because of a school being close too.

[LouC]

IMO, it's because Sexual offenses are a sickness and often a compulsion. Murder and drug dealing isn't. Except for serial killers but they usually don't get paroled.

Having said that, I don't believe that all people on sex offenders lists deserve to be there. It has gotten a little hysterical, imo. I have heard, and I don't know for sure that this is true, that if you take your clothes off in, say, a college prank, and go running into the middle of a football game, you can be listed as a sex offender in some states. I also have read or heard, that if you are a male under the age of 18, and you have sex, even consentual sex, with a woman under the age of 18, you too can be labeled a sex offender.

But as to your OP, I believe it's because of the urge and compulsion that sex offenders have that puts them under this kind of scrutiny.

There is a notion of the sex crimes carrying a more personal & thus perverse connotation making people more generally amenable to making the punishment more personal such as with the registry and the yard signs.

I do not agree.

All felon criminals should be subjected to such "after time served" treatment.

[BillBrown]

The big problem with the "registry" tho, is that some offenders can't live at home when they have females in their house. Some can't live at home because of a school being close too.

I think that's separate and apart from the registration.

Registration, as I understand it, means they have to register at the police station and the government makes the information available to the public.
In Texas there is a state website that shows them all.

[mgifford]

I think that's separate and apart from the registration.

Registration, as I understand it, means they have to register at the police station and the government makes the information available to the public.
In Texas there is a state website that shows them all.

Incorrect Sir! Well partly.

[foxgurrrl]

I do not think a person should have to be put on a sex registry list, if say, they are 18 and their girlfriend (or boyfriend) is 16 and they are caught having sex. That being said, any sick **** that would sexually abuse a child needs to be put on a list. Preferably locked away until they die.

[Spiked101]

I don't agree with the registry because the whole sex offender net is too wide a cast. As people have posted, it catches people doing stupid pranks, 18 year old's having sex with 17 year olds, etc. It needs to be more narrowly defined. (that should have been an option in the poll BTW. I couldn't vote in the poll because none of them fit the reason I oppose it)

[Koushi Shinigami]

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

recidivism

[Pudge]

I think it's gotten a bit ridiculous, the paranoia about sex offenders is whipped into a firestorm by the media and shows like To Catch a Predator.

I'm not sure registries are a good idea. How about we stop imprisoning non-violent drug offenders to start with and not letting people who molest children out of prison?

[JenyEliza]

This is something I always wondered since the sex offender registries became so popular.

You have a convicted, say, robber or drug dealer get some harsh sentence. Maybe ten or twenty. They serve part of their time, they're paroled and they're free. Time served, all that's left is the fact that they're convicted felons and can't vote or own a gun ever again.

You have a convicted, say, pedophile possessing kiddie porn get a harsh sentence, whatever they normally get. They serve (usually) all of their time, they're released... into a forced program that amounts to extra prison time. Once that's done, they're forever on the sexual offender registry. For several years, possibly for life, they have to go on a registry, are permanently banned from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a playground, a city park, or a day care center. They can't even decorate their homes for Christmas or Halloween because it could lure children. In some jurisdictions they have to also advertise prominently that they are sex offenders on their front lawns and must tell all their neighbors what they are, and then they must regularly visit the police station and tell them where they work, live, when they're going out of town, etc.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this.

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:

[JenyEliza]

recidivism

Thank you. In light of the stupidity of the question being asked here, you might have to post the definition for recidivism, so that those who don't understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders can understand.

:doh:

[F9thRet]

I voted No , It's a waste of tax payers money, simply because they should be executed on conviction. However people in this day and age are too much of a wimp to take out these monsters in our world.

Otherwise, I am for the registry as the lesser of a solution.

Stephen

[Gabby]

I don't agree with the registry because the whole sex offender net is too wide a cast. As people have posted, it catches people doing stupid pranks, 18 year old's having sex with 17 year olds, etc. It needs to be more narrowly defined. (that should have been an option in the poll BTW. I couldn't vote in the poll because none of them fit the reason I oppose it)

I agree with you that we need to make some changes in who ends up on the sex offender lists.

Things like consensual sex between near aged young people should not put one on the sex offender lists.

We do however need to keep the lists for those who are truly rapists and child molesters. The public has the right to be informed as it's a form a mental illness that is never cured.

[Gabby]

I think it's gotten a bit ridiculous, the paranoia about sex offenders is whipped into a firestorm by the media and shows like To Catch a Predator.

I'm not sure registries are a good idea. How about we stop imprisoning non-violent drug offenders to start with and not letting people who molest children out of prison?

This I agree with.

The problem we currently face is that most who molest children get little to no time for their crimes. So the lists are the only defense for the general public in most cases.

[LouC]

This I agree with.

The problem we currently face is that most who molest children get little to no time for their crimes. So the lists are the only defense for the general public in most cases.

I am sorry but a registry is only going to show a tip of the iceberg shot of child molesters in any given area.

Since by the time a molester is caught and convicted and put on a registry they have committed numerous acts of molestation it is much like locking the barn door after the horse has run off.

It gives parents a false sense of security if they print one off without realizing it is more likely a spouse or a relative or a friend that is going to harm their children than it is any of the strangers on that list.

But it makes people feel better.

[Gabby]

I am sorry but a registry is only going to show a tip of the iceberg shot of child molesters in any given area.

Since by the time a molester is caught and convicted and put on a registry they have committed numerous acts of molestation it is much like locking the barn door after the horse has run off.

It gives parents a false sense of security if they print one off without realizing it is more likely a spouse or a relative or a friend that is going to harm their children than it is any of the strangers on that list.

But it makes people feel better.
But a registry will show those who have been caught. At least people will know who they are.

When my son was younger my rule was that he was not alone with anyone I did not know well. His grandmother took care of him when I was at work. He was with me or his dad the rest of the the time.

My now husband and is ex-wife were not that careful. The results were that their children were molested or an extended period. When they came to live with me I enforced my stricter rules, the abuse stopped and they opened up about it.

Unfortunately the perpetrators have never been prosecuted. So I agree with the false sense of security since they are still out there. One of them is a woman who is a bowling coach who teaches children and she takes children on bowling tournament trips.

However, one of the best ways of stopping crime is to shame the perpetrators. Remember the old stocks? They worked wonders. The more we know about our neighbors the better able we are to protect ourselves.

[Andrew_980]

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:

Obviously you have no regard to people attacked and abused just as badly and the system didn't do to them what you want it to do to any man that does anything remotely sexual.

Yes it is stupid to treat the 18 year old with a 17 year old girlfriend like this.
Yes it is stupid to want the guy that had sex with a drunk chick ruined for life, but the drug dealer that killed by action and via his product is good to go once he gets parole.
It is stupid to get emotional based on your experience and let that stop you from thinking about the whole picture.

[Sidestreamer]

I think that's separate and apart from the registration.

Registration, as I understand it, means they have to register at the police station and the government makes the information available to the public.
In Texas there is a state website that shows them all.
I would say most states with the sex offender registry go beyond simply putting your name there. You have those residency restrictions as I said.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_offender

[Sidestreamer]

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:
Actually I was assaulted twice (not sexually), the second time ended up being a robbery and the guy acted as if he had a gun (though it was too dark for me to see it and he kept his hand in his pocket so I think he faked it, but he had a dozen friends so I was too scared to fight back....)


Why is it stupid to ask this. We don't register paroled murderers. They took more than someone's privacy and innocence away, they took everything, and yet if they were paroled they pretty much can do everything but vote or carry a gun around.

Have you been? If you don't wish to answer I respect that.

[Sidestreamer]

I agree with you that we need to make some changes in who ends up on the sex offender lists.

Things like consensual sex between near aged young people should not put one on the sex offender lists.

We do however need to keep the lists for those who are truly rapists and child molesters. The public has the right to be informed as it's a form a mental illness that is never cured.
I'm glad you brought this up, because the consensual stuff between an 18-year-old and, say, a 16-year-old that puts the 18-year-old on the registry and bars him from parenting his own kids... that to me is aggravating.

[bsleplatt]

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:

I am glad I am not the only one :doh:

Sex offenders are more

why:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rsorp94.htm

Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994
Presents, for the first time, data on the rearrest, reconviction, and reimprisonment of 9,691 male sex offenders, including 4,295 child molesters, who were tracked for 3 years after their release from prisons in 15 States in 1994. The 9,691 are two-thirds of all the male sex offenders released from prisons in the United States in 1994. The study represents the largest followup ever conducted of convicted sex offenders following discharge from prison and provides the most comprehensive assessment of their behavior after release.

Highlights include the following:


Within 3 years following their release, 5.3% of sex offenders (men who had committed rape or sexual assault) were rearrested for another sex crime.

On average the 9,691 sex offenders served 3 1/2 years of their 8-year sentence.

Compared to non-sex offenders released from State prisons, released sex offenders were 4 times more likely to be rearrested for a sex crime.

The 9,691 released sex offenders included 4,295 men who were in prison for child molesting.

11/03 NCJ 198281

a few more facts...

It is estimated that approximately 71% of child sex offenders are under 35 and knew the victim at least casually. About 80% of these individuals fall within normal intelligence ranges; 59% gain sexual access to their victims through seduction or enticement.
Source: Burgess & Groth, 1984.

About 95% of victims know their perpetrators.
Source: CCPCA, 1992.

The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of whom do not report the offence.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 1988.

and from http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats2.htm#Convicted


Sixty Percent of Convicted Sex Offenders
are on Parole or Probation

According to the 1997 Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Report, "on any given day in 1994 almost 60 percent of the 234,000 convicted sex offenders under the care, custody or control of corrections officials in the United States were on parole or probation."

The 1997 BJS report estimated 99,300 offenders convicted of rape or sexual assault were in local jails or state or federal prisons. An estimated 134,300 convicted offenders were under conditional supervision in the community, such as parole (following imprisonment) or probation.

According to the BJS report, for all offenders, the ratio of offenders on probation or parole supervision to offenders in jail or prison is almost 3 to 1. However, for sexual offenders, the ratio of those on conditional release to those incarcerated is 1.4 to 1.

Sex offenders constitute 4.7 percent of the almost 5 million offenders those in federal or state prisons, jails, on probation, or parole.

Sex offenders comprise:
1 percent of the federal prison population;
9.7 percent of the state prison population;
3.4 percent of jail inmates;
3.6 percent of offenders on probation; and
4 percent of the offenders on parole.

[bsleplatt]

I'm glad you brought this up, because the consensual stuff between an 18-year-old and, say, a 16-year-old that puts the 18-year-old on the registry and bars him from parenting his own kids... that to me is aggravating.

why are you giving this person who broke a law a "pass"? I mean...could they not wait it out 2 years or find a new partner? why choose someone that is against the law for them to have sex with? They have no other options out there?

[Sidestreamer]

why are you giving this person who broke a law a "pass"? I mean...could they not wait it out 2 years or find a new partner? why choose someone that is against the law for them to have sex with? They have no other options out there?
A pass? You're saying he should be put in the same registry a serial rapist or a child molester goes on? Are you really advocating this? May I ask the age difference is between you and your husband?

[bsleplatt]

A pass? You're saying he should be put in the same registry a serial rapist or a child molester goes on? Are you really advocating this? May I ask the age difference is between you and your husband?

7 years...and this is excatly the reason we didnt marry when we first met. I was 18 and he was 25. It took him another 8 years to grow up (and me as well).

If you are stupid enough to have sex with someone who is under age....then imho you deserve to be put on a sex offender list. keep it in your pants and show some restraint. geez.

[Sidestreamer]

7 years...and this is excatly the reason we didnt marry when we first met. I was 18 and he was 25. It took him another 8 years to grow up (and me as well).

If you are stupid enough to have sex with someone who is under age....then imho you deserve to be put on a sex offender list. keep it in your pants and show some restraint. geez.
What a way of thinking. So you would place the 18-year-old in the same category as a rapist or a sex predator because the 18-year-old and the 16-year-old couldn't wait. I'm not for letting it simply go but a 10-year or in some places a lifetime sex offender registration for something like that is not my idea of justice. That's draconian.

[bsleplatt]

What a way of thinking. So you would place the 18-year-old in the same category as a rapist or a sex predator because the 18-year-old and the 16-year-old couldn't wait.

if they can not show respect and restraint for the law now...why do you think they would not repeat this same crime down the road?

edited to add...again...why can they not just find another partner? why not just wait to have sex? if they cant....that person is not the only person on earth..why CHOOSE to have sex with someone underage??

[CaptainPike]

The big problem with the "registry" tho, is that some offenders can't live at home when they have females in their house. Some can't live at home because of a school being close too.

Only when there are females in the hosue?

Does that mean a lesbian convicted of pedophilia can't live at home with a female in the house?

[bsleplatt]

What a way of thinking. So you would place the 18-year-old in the same category as a rapist or a sex predator because the 18-year-old and the 16-year-old couldn't wait. I'm not for letting it simply go but a 10-year or in some places a lifetime sex offender registration for something like that is not my idea of justice. That's draconian.

one more thought.. why can they not wait? is someone holding a gun to thier heads? is someone forcing them to do this?

[Sidestreamer]

if they can not show respect and restraint for the law now...why do you think they would not repeat this same crime down the road?


A 18-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old is a far cry from an 18-year-old hitting on a 10-year-old or a 48-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old. The latter two have something psychological going on, but the former are separated by what I can only call an arbitrary distinction at the 18-year point. Development's not all that much different and as far as I'm concerned, aside from the fact that they're doing it early (and a lot of them do), there's nothing criminal going on. Thankfully some states have a Romeo and Juliet clause that lightens the penalties and prevents them from going on sex offender registries, but apparently there's no such thing as a bad law to you.

[alexz2317]

A 18-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old is a far cry from an 18-year-old hitting on a 10-year-old or a 48-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old. The latter two have something psychological going on, but the former are separated by what I can only call an arbitrary distinction at the 18-year point. Development's not all that much different and as far as I'm concerned, aside from the fact that they're doing it early (and a lot of them do), there's nothing criminal going on. Thankfully some states have a Romeo and Juliet clause that lightens the penalties and prevents them from going on sex offender registries, but apparently there's no such thing as a bad law to you.
I agree with you on that. A 2 year difference is NOTHING. I know people who where 21 and they were dating 17 year olds and 16 year olds and probably having sex.

[alexz2317]

one more thought.. why can they not wait? is someone holding a gun to thier heads? is someone forcing them to do this?
Love is a driving force

[Gabby]

Love is a driving force

It's lust that drives a people to have sex when the circumstances are not right. Has nothing to do with love. And yes lust is a driving force that often leads to some very deep sorrows later.. like unwanted children, STDs, etc. 16 year olds are not mature enough to make such choices, but our society refuses to acknowledge that.

[F9thRet]

A 18-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old is a far cry from an 18-year-old hitting on a 10-year-old or a 48-year-old hitting on a 16-year-old. The latter two have something psychological going on, but the former are separated by what I can only call an arbitrary distinction at the 18-year point. Development's not all that much different and as far as I'm concerned, aside from the fact that they're doing it early (and a lot of them do), there's nothing criminal going on. Thankfully some states have a Romeo and Juliet clause that lightens the penalties and prevents them from going on sex offender registries, but apparently there's no such thing as a bad law to you.

So basically, an 18 YO having sex and risking pregnancy with a 16 year old is ok, but we can not expect them to follow the laws of there states.That does not make much since at all.

Stephen

[BillyBobUSA]

I voted No , It's a waste of tax payers money, simply because they should be executed on conviction. However people in this day and age are too much of a wimp to take out these monsters in our world.

Otherwise, I am for the registry as the lesser of a solution.

Stephen

Agreed.

A sex crime that involves rape of minors should carry the death penalty.

[AugustGem]

I don't know how often this happens but I'm sure it happens a lot... 16 year old girls lie about their age. Shoot, I did and I wasn't sexually active. Almost all of my friends did. I believe the registry is good in theory but like most things, not so much in practice. 18 y/o boys are just as eager and immature as they were at 17, 16, 15. Sorry, but I can't agree with the other women and men even that think a boy at 18, 19, 20 should be treated like a pedo. 21, I'll be ok with that. We all have to be adults by 21. But to hold an 18 y/o in the same manner as some pedo is wrong.
Let's not forget the parents who like to use that statutory rape gem when their daughters stop being their little girls and dates the "older guy" at the ripe old age of 18 or 19. One of friends father played that game. Thankfully, the cops didn't do anything more than take a report. My friend was a few months shy of 17 (if memory serves) and her boyfriend was 18 (still in HS so my guess he was just 18) We were all goofballs then. Her bf is now a successful businessman, he isn't a perv. He's married with a kid. How his life could have been ruined by her father. I don't know why the cops didn't do anything, my friend was pregnant by her b/f. Maybe it wasn't illegal in NY at that time?

[NascarGirl2448]

I agree with you that we need to make some changes in who ends up on the sex offender lists.

Things like consensual sex between near aged young people should not put one on the sex offender lists.

We do however need to keep the lists for those who are truly rapists and child molesters. The public has the right to be informed as it's a form a mental illness that is never cured.

Exactly. The problem, as I see it, is that the scope of what is a sex offender has gotten extremely broad. We need to narrow it down to the ones that truly are a threat to society, not some kid streaking at a football game or two teenagers having consensual sex, or someone who goes in the woods, where no one else can see, to relieve themselves (which will make a person a sex offender in some states).

We need to make it so that the ones who end up on the sex offender registry are the ones who are truly dangerous (rapists, child molesters, etc.).

[notluzn]

Sex offenders could have been someone peeing in the woods. The law needs to be rewriten

[notluzn]

Agreed.

A sex crime that involves rape of minors should carry the death penalty.
What if that Minor lied? Happened in my family and an Uncle died in Prison while my stupid Bitch cousin admitted her mom told her to say it and it was all about getting money. Where is her punishment? Screwed up the family for sure. The got $100's of thousands and blew it in 5 years.

[JediMindTrick]

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:

Did you even bother to read his whole post? Obviously not so let me paraphrase what he said.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this. I don't think he was suggesting that sex crimes aren't bad but he is saying that killing someone is worse. Yet we don't register killers.

[traditional_woman]

Only b/c it hasn't been mentioned. The sex offense registries do cite the felony.

If somebody is looking to the registry for hiring purposes, or character purposes, they will be able to see what type of offense it was. Most will not mark a teen for sleeping with his teen gf, or a guy who took a leak outside.

[Sidestreamer]

Only b/c it hasn't been mentioned. The sex offense registries do cite the felony.

If somebody is looking to the registry for hiring purposes, or character purposes, they will be able to see what type of offense it was. Most will not mark a teen for sleeping with his teen gf, or a guy who took a leak outside.
But the law doesn't make that distinction, so the guy peeing in the woods and the 18-year-old sleeping with the 16-year-old will still have to tell the police where he's living, will have to advertise that he's a sex offender, will have to move away from schools or day care centers or public parks, will be legally prohibited from taking a job where children are involved regardless of what the employer would think...

[Shella_Bella1966]

Alot of Criminals can be rehabilitated. However, Sexual offenders cannot. They may go years without offending, But will always have the urge, and do it again & AGAIN! Our laws have made it way to easy for them to offend over & over. until our laws get toughter, we will never end this.

[Andrew_980]

What if that Minor lied? Happened in my family and an Uncle died in Prison while my stupid Bitch cousin admitted her mom told her to say it and it was all about getting money. Where is her punishment? Screwed up the family for sure. The got $100's of thousands and blew it in 5 years.

They deserve death, painful and creative

[animalnut]

Alot of Criminals can be rehabilitated. However, Sexual offenders cannot. They may go years without offending, But will always have the urge, and do it again & AGAIN! Our laws have made it way to easy for them to offend over & over. until our laws get toughter, we will never end this.

You beat me to it. They generally are never able to be rehabilitated.

[Andrew_980]

You beat me to it. They generally are never able to be rehabilitated.

Then kill the hopeless cases but do not persecute the 18 year olds dating 17 year olds or the guy that got caught peeing on the roadside.

[jimjames418]

But the law doesn't make that distinction, so the guy peeing in the woods and the 18-year-old sleeping with the 16-year-old will still have to tell the police where he's living, will have to advertise that he's a sex offender, will have to move away from schools or day care centers or public parks, will be legally prohibited from taking a job where children are involved regardless of what the employer would think...
In most states it is the law that a convicted felon must notify the sheriff of the county or the police chief of the city/town in which he resides within 48 hours of moving into the place. He must also notify them of any change of address.

And most states now have a web site listing all convicted felons in the state.

I think that any person convicted of a forced rape or the rape of a child under the age of 16 should receive the death pentaly. Then he would not have to worry about registration. :evil:

[MendacityDestructor]

This is something I always wondered since the sex offender registries became so popular.

You have a convicted, say, robber or drug dealer get some harsh sentence. Maybe ten or twenty. They serve part of their time, they're paroled and they're free. Time served, all that's left is the fact that they're convicted felons and can't vote or own a gun ever again.

You have a convicted, say, pedophile possessing kiddie porn get a harsh sentence, whatever they normally get. They serve (usually) all of their time, they're released... into a forced program that amounts to extra prison time. Once that's done, they're forever on the sexual offender registry. For several years, possibly for life, they have to go on a registry, are permanently banned from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a playground, a city park, or a day care center. They can't even decorate their homes for Christmas or Halloween because it could lure children. In some jurisdictions they have to also advertise prominently that they are sex offenders on their front lawns and must tell all their neighbors what they are, and then they must regularly visit the police station and tell them where they work, live, when they're going out of town, etc.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this.

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

Laws and their respective applications will always contain an element of subjectivity. That said, it is the compulsive nature of their crimes, coupled with the inability of their victims to defend themselves against it, that warrants the extra monitoring. Should other criminals be monitored? They are, to a degree. Should they be monitored like sex offenders, well, if they did pretty soon you'd have a neighborhood with nothing but lawn signs that say hi, I'm a criminal, would you like to come over for some pot roast?

[JediMindTrick]

Alot of Criminals can be rehabilitated. However, Sexual offenders cannot. They may go years without offending, But will always have the urge, and do it again & AGAIN! Our laws have made it way to easy for them to offend over & over. until our laws get toughter, we will never end this.

Over generalization.

In my state you can put on the sex offender list for peeing in public (falls under the Indecent Exposure law which was intended to get flashers but instead ends up getting more drunks outside the bar than anything). I also know of one sex offender who got convicted of rape about ten years ago after his victim got pregnant. Now they are married and have three more kids. 21 and 17 was only slightly a big age difference then, 31 and 27 is not big at all. Countless other examples of people who are not a danger and won't offend again. Over generalizations like yours do more harm than good.

[mgifford]

In my State they must register, also they have to follow strict guidelines. They can't live within 1000 feet of a bus stop, or be allowed to be around small children. The "registry" certainly isn't just so the public can know that an offender lives close.

It's also so the cops can know who to look for if an offender moves into the area and all of a sudden things start happening that didn't before.

[burt23]

The laws have changed in regard to statutory rape. A lot of states have changed it to read over to 18 years and 5 years older then the minor child. But if the minor is under 16 then its another story. My step daughter and her 18 year old boyfriend was in this situation. He was 18 and still in high school she was just under 16. a few months later they mete the 5 year rule. We did not do anything because first off this kid is likely to be our future son-in-law. It would have impacted his earning capability. Second would be... the kids would have never stopped anyway by getting the police involved. It my experience that the police are not family problem solvers

[uncledoom]

Obviously you've never been subjected to a violent attack and raped.

When you have, you will understand "what's so bad" about sex offenders.

OMG....I cannot even believe the stupidity of the question you're asking. :eek:

The family of a murder victim could argue the same thing. In those cases, the victims are 6 feet under.

[notluzn]

I think it's just stupid all together. If anyone ever get accused of rape or other, you are screwed and unless you have a ton of money, you will spend time in prison. If you plead not guilty you'll get 12 to life and you plead guilty you'll get 5-12 years. I'm telling you all that I have seen people wronged for this stupid thing and the lier got away with it and nothing ever happen to them.

[traditional_woman]

I think it's just stupid all together. If anyone ever get accused of rape or other, you are screwed and unless you have a ton of money, you will spend time in prison. If you plead not guilty you'll get 12 to life and you plead guilty you'll get 5-12 years. I'm telling you all that I have seen people wronged for this stupid thing and the lier got away with it and nothing ever happen to them.

It's sad either way you slice it. Some lie and get away with it, some rape and get away with it.

[sgtmac_46]

This is something I always wondered since the sex offender registries became so popular.

You have a convicted, say, robber or drug dealer get some harsh sentence. Maybe ten or twenty. They serve part of their time, they're paroled and they're free. Time served, all that's left is the fact that they're convicted felons and can't vote or own a gun ever again.

You have a convicted, say, pedophile possessing kiddie porn get a harsh sentence, whatever they normally get. They serve (usually) all of their time, they're released... into a forced program that amounts to extra prison time. Once that's done, they're forever on the sexual offender registry. For several years, possibly for life, they have to go on a registry, are permanently banned from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a church, a playground, a city park, or a day care center. They can't even decorate their homes for Christmas or Halloween because it could lure children. In some jurisdictions they have to also advertise prominently that they are sex offenders on their front lawns and must tell all their neighbors what they are, and then they must regularly visit the police station and tell them where they work, live, when they're going out of town, etc.

Paroled murderers don't have to go through this.

What makes sexual offenders the only kind of people worthy of this monitoring?

Because sex offenders have been shown to be among the most recidivist crimes, and further, most violent sex crimes are committed by those who are previously convicted of sex crimes.

Sexual crimes are not like other crimes.....a persons sexual fixations are set for life. Therefore, even if a pedophile manages to never victimize a child again, he ALWAYS wants to it, it's always in his mind to do so.

Basically, assume whatever sexual preference you have suddenly becomes illegal........are you going to stop engaging in that activity? If you like having sex with women (or men) are you going to suddenly stop?

If you go to jail, and get out in 2 years, are you going to remain celibate for the rest of your life? No?

It's the same thing with a sex offender......what turns them on is repulsive to us, but it's normal to them, and they are as compelled to engage in that activity, as normal folks are to engage in normal sex.......and THAT is why they are worse than other offenders.

[sgtmac_46]

Over generalization.

In my state you can put on the sex offender list for peeing in public (falls under the Indecent Exposure law which was intended to get flashers but instead ends up getting more drunks outside the bar than anything). I also know of one sex offender who got convicted of rape about ten years ago after his victim got pregnant. Now they are married and have three more kids. 21 and 17 was only slightly a big age difference then, 31 and 27 is not big at all. Countless other examples of people who are not a danger and won't offend again. Over generalizations like yours do more harm than good. What you have a problem with, then, is the state wrongly categorizing some things as 'sexual offenses' and lumping them in with others.

However, when we're discussing sexual predators, there's no confusion.......they are highly recidivists, and lifelong predators.

[Gray]

The big problem with the "registry" tho, is that some offenders can't live at home when they have females in their house. Some can't live at home because of a school being close too.

The problem with the registry is that there are a hell of a lot of folk on there for no reason.

Hell I have heard of kids being put on the thing. One state was doing it before the people had a trial.

[Gray]

Alot of Criminals can be rehabilitated. However, Sexual offenders cannot. They may go years without offending, But will always have the urge, and do it again & AGAIN! Our laws have made it way to easy for them to offend over & over. until our laws get toughter, we will never end this.

The laws have been made tougher....lots tougher. So much so that the offender has zero to lose and everything to gain by murdering the child once he has committed a sexual offense.

Brilliant!

[sgtmac_46]

The laws have been made tougher....lots tougher. So much so that the offender has zero to lose and everything to gain by murdering the child once he has committed a sexual offense.

Brilliant! That's why such crimes as killing another in commission of a sex crime should carry a mandatory death sentence.

[sgtmac_46]

The problem with the registry is that there are a hell of a lot of folk on there for no reason.

Hell I have heard of kids being put on the thing. One state was doing it before the people had a trial.
Yes, but lets keep in perspective that, even though some states can't seem to tell the difference between a 22 year old and his 17 year old girlfriend, and real pedophile, that you and I can tell the difference.........starting from that, the job becomes to explain to the legislatures the difference between the former and later, and quit treating the former like the later and vice versa.

REAL sexual predators need explosive GPS tracking collars to live in society.





Most other kinds of criminals have underlying problems that, if we treat them and deal with those problems, many can overcome recidivism.....for example, many criminals have underlying drug problems that resulted in their criminal behavior. Solve the drug problem, and many will stop being criminals once they are released.

With sexual predators, however, the underlying problem IS what they are.......there's no cure for that.

[tocsinia]

Recidivism is so exponentially high.
A sex offender commits his crime approximately 114 times before he is caught.
The crime touches the very soul of its victim. Someone steals your belongings, you feel violated. Someone forcibly violates you and tells you you're dirty and will be killed if you tell, especially a child who never feels trust or safety....I do not have enough words to describe what heck should be like for them...

[FidelisAdMortem]

There is no rehab for a sex offender. Death is the only rehab.

[Gray]

That's why such crimes as killing another in commission of a sex crime should carry a mandatory death sentence.

That seems to have went right over your head. huh?


You know I was only pointing out the drawback to the (justifiably deserved) extreme punishment. I do not know of the solution....

[Gray]

Yes, but lets keep in perspective that, even though some states can't seem to tell the difference between a 22 year old and his 17 year old girlfriend, and real pedophile, that you and I can tell the difference.........starting from that, the job becomes to explain to the legislatures the difference between the former and later, and quit treating the former like the later and vice versa.

REAL sexual predators need explosive GPS tracking collars to live in society.





Most other kinds of criminals have underlying problems that, if we treat them and deal with those problems, many can overcome recidivism.....for example, many criminals have underlying drug problems that resulted in their criminal behavior. Solve the drug problem, and many will stop being criminals once they are released.

With sexual predators, however, the underlying problem IS what they are.......there's no cure for that.

Of course. All this I know.

I simply have a concern for those unjustifiably shove into the "sexual offender" net like the small child caught looking under a bathroom stall, the two 17 year old, or the guy caught peeing behind the dumpster.

[ChaosControl]

Blah, edit again.

Okay so I'll make it short this time.
Just make the punishment fit the crime more and make the lists unnecessary.
Keep the child molesters in prison for life, or execute them.

[FidelisAdMortem]

blah, edit again.

Okay so i'll make it short this time.
Just make the punishment fit the crime more and make the lists unnecessary.
Keep the child molesters in prison for life, or execute them.

+1.

[grapabeaux]

Alot of Criminals can be rehabilitated. However, Sexual offenders cannot. They may go years without offending, But will always have the urge, and do it again & AGAIN! Our laws have made it way to easy for them to offend over & over. until our laws get toughter, we will never end this.

According to the DOJ statistics cited above, there was only a 5.8% recidivism rate among sex offenders. That would run counter to your argument that no sex offender could ever be rehabilitated.

[Remus Lupin]

According to the DOJ statistics cited above, there was only a 5.8% recidivism rate among sex offenders. That would run counter to your argument that no sex offender could ever be rehabilitated.

Only problem with that is, that is only within a three year period. It took Couey 6 or 7 years after his latest sex offense before he kidnapped Jessica Lunsford and murdered her.

[FidelisAdMortem]

According to the DOJ statistics cited above, there was only a 5.8% recidivism rate among sex offenders. That would run counter to your argument that no sex offender could ever be rehabilitated.

You shouldnt trust criminal justice statistics.

Just to let you know.

[grapabeaux]

You shouldnt trust criminal justice statistics.

Just to let you know.

Compared to the overblown hysteria of this thread, its the best data available.

[grapabeaux]

Only problem with that is, that is only within a three year period. It took Couey 6 or 7 years after his latest sex offense before he kidnapped Jessica Lunsford and murdered her.

It would be foolish to make criminal punishment and post-prison regulations based on one case. The relevant data is what these offenders, as a group, are likely to do. People want to believe that it is impossible for a sex offender not to repeat his/her crime. Even if the DOJ data didn't extend the length of study as long as you would have liked, it's clear that recidivism isn't an inevitability. Not even close to an inevitability.

[NascarGirl2448]

Then kill the hopeless cases but do not persecute the 18 year olds dating 17 year olds or the guy that got caught peeing on the roadside.

Exactly. The problem with sex offender laws is that if you give the government an inch, they take 10 miles. For one thing, why are the scum that deserve to be on such a registry out of jail in the first place? Second, use a little common sense here. An 18 year old kid who was prosecuted for sleeping a 16 or 17 year old boyfriend or girlfriend (and you can't tell me it doesn't happen) doesn't deserve to be prosecuted in the first place, not to mention being forced to register as a sex offender. Same thing with the guy peeing in the alley. The sex offender registry was a good idea, but like anything else the government touches, its gotten way out of hand. It needs to be reformed, and quickly.

[sgtmac_46]

That seems to have went right over your head. huh?


You know I was only pointing out the drawback to the (justifiably deserved) extreme punishment. I do not know of the solution.... The solution certainly isn't the notion that we need to make the potential penalty low in the hopes that they won't kill anyone while committing the crime.

[sgtmac_46]

Of course. All this I know.

I simply have a concern for those unjustifiably shove into the "sexual offender" net like the small child caught looking under a bathroom stall, the two 17 year old, or the guy caught peeing behind the dumpster. Then what you have an issue with is how some crimes are classified.........which is a separate issue from sexual predators.

[sgtmac_46]

blah, edit again.

Okay so i'll make it short this time.
Just make the punishment fit the crime more and make the lists unnecessary.
Keep the child molesters in prison for life, or execute them.

+1

[sgtmac_46]

According to the DOJ statistics cited above, there was only a 5.8% recidivism rate among sex offenders. That would run counter to your argument that no sex offender could ever be rehabilitated. Lumped in those statistics are a high number of folks convicted of non-predatory sexual crimes, such as statutory rape (22 year old boyfriend, 17 year old girlfriend) or indecent exposure, which many states classify as 'sexual offenses'.

Comparing those to sexual predator crimes, such as forcible rape, child molestation and pedophilia related crimes, is apples and bowling balls.

"Doren (1998), in a review of the research, reports that the true recidivism base rate over 25 years for extrafamilial sexual abusers is 52% and for rapists is 39%." http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/3512/home?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

52% and 39%, respectively, is a pretty damn high recidivism rate.

[sgtmac_46]

Exactly. The problem with sex offender laws is that if you give the government an inch, they take 10 miles. For one thing, why are the scum that deserve to be on such a registry out of jail in the first place? Second, use a little common sense here. An 18 year old kid who was prosecuted for sleeping a 16 or 17 year old boyfriend or girlfriend (and you can't tell me it doesn't happen) doesn't deserve to be prosecuted in the first place, not to mention being forced to register as a sex offender. Same thing with the guy peeing in the alley. The sex offender registry was a good idea, but like anything else the government touches, its gotten way out of hand. It needs to be reformed, and quickly.

Missouri's laws on such things are pretty reasonable.......in Missouri the age of consent is 17......however, it is not a crime of statutory rape unless someone over the age of 20 has sexual relations with someone under the age of 17.

Meaning, if a 16 year old girl has a 19 year old boyfriend, that is not a crime, even though she is under the age of consent.

Hence, none of the sex offenders in Missouri can claim the 'I was 18 she was 16, and I got charged with statutory rape' because that's not a crime in Missouri.

The state of Missouri has taken in to account that these types of relationships are common and considered relatively normal.......32 and 15? NOT SO MUCH!

[Gray]

The solution certainly isn't the notion that we need to make the potential penalty low in the hopes that they won't kill anyone while committing the crime.

Didn't say it was.

Personally I think that executions should be on public TV.

[sgtmac_46]

Didn't say it was.

Personally I think that executions should be on public TV. I wouldn't make it public.......just the condemned, a gallows and a rope, and a few onlookers is completely sufficient.

Public executions went out about the time we stopped having to see our meat butchered. Americans no longer have the stomach to watch the process of true justice or the harvesting of a good steak.......we're a society that our dirty work be performed by specialists, behind closed doors.

[NascarGirl2448]

Missouri's laws on such things are pretty reasonable.......in Missouri the age of consent is 17......however, it is not a crime of statutory rape unless someone over the age of 20 has sexual relations with someone under the age of 17.
Meaning, if a 16 year old girl has a 19 year old boyfriend, that is not a crime, even though she is under the age of consent.
Hence, none of the sex offenders in Missouri can claim the 'I was 18 she was 16, and I got charged with statutory rape' because that's not a crime in Missouri.
The state of Missouri has taken in to account that these types of relationships are common and considered relatively normal.......32 and 15? NOT SO MUCH!

I'm glad some states still have sense enough to realize that 18 year olds are going to date 16 and 17 year olds, and it shouldn't be any big deal. After all, some kids are either 18 in their senior year in high school, or turn 18 during the year. They're going to go out with 16 or 17 year olds. That's perfectly normal. Or even a 19 year old guy in college going out with a 17 year old in their senior year of high school.

Although you're right, a 32 year old going out with a teenager is definitely NOT normal.

[livia]

A similar scheme to this has been piloted in a section of the UK - if someone suspects, they can go to the local police and enquire. In a six month period, out of 150 enquiries, 10 received "relevant information" and at least one man was re-arrested! Basically, if it helps protect one child, that's reason enough for me to support it.

Regarding other types of registers, there is a plan in the UK to have a domestic violence register as well.

[neoINDIE]

IMO, it's because Sexual offenses are a sickness and often a compulsion. Murder and drug dealing isn't. Except for serial killers but they usually don't get paroled.

Having said that, I don't believe that all people on sex offenders lists deserve to be there. It has gotten a little hysterical, imo. I have heard, and I don't know for sure that this is true, that if you take your clothes off in, say, a college prank, and go running into the middle of a football game, you can be listed as a sex offender in some states. I also have read or heard, that if you are a male under the age of 18, and you have sex, even consentual sex, with a woman under the age of 18, you too can be labeled a sex offender.

But as to your OP, I believe it's because of the urge and compulsion that sex offenders have that puts them under this kind of scrutiny.

I agree. Consensual sex between an 18 yo male and a 16 yo female should not get the male tagged as a sex offender.

[CID_0687]

The problem with the registry is that there are a hell of a lot of folk on there for no reason.

Hell I have heard of kids being put on the thing. One state was doing it before the people had a trial.
In some cases I agree with putting a kid on there...We went to church with a family whose 5 year old son was sodomized by his 12 and 14 year old cousins...There's no excuse for that...IMO simply placing them on probation and on the sex offender list wasn't enough....they deserved life in prison or death...