The other day at work, my friend and I were discussing the criminal sexual offender lists on the internet. My friend is a person who loves these lists and checks them regularly to see who is on them in his local area. He claims that he actually was able to find out that the parent (father) of one of the kids in his child’s class is on the list, so now he does not let his son play with that other kid-in or out of school. Also, his neighbor found another local on the list, printed it out (like a “wanted-dead or alive” poster) and hung it on the free advertising at the local IGA.
I, on the other hand, said that I have never looked at those lists and that I never would on principle. I believe that these lists are a terrible idea and that they are simply a cop-out for the criminal justice system in our country. Please don’t misunderstand, I make no excuses for these criminals, and I think that their crimes are some of the most repugnant actions that one person can take on another (especially if children are involved). I also buy into the thought that these people often have some mental pathology that makes the chances of them recommiting their crimes (if given the chance) almost inevitable.
All of that said, I think that our system of justice should allow for a person to pay their debt to society and then be allowed to start over. I think that if a person’s crime is so heinous and if the criminal is still a threat to society (and yes I believe that CSC’s are) then they should still be in prison. It sort of reminds me of The Scarlet Letter.
Am I alone in my thinking? Am I wrong? Can someone convince me otherwise?
I guess you don’t support the “placing the pictures of guys that get busted with prostitutes” on TV, then? Can’t remember which cities do/did this.
Not sure what I think about the “child sex offender” public lists …
As a parent, some things are good to know.
everyone does deserve a fresh start.
It was printed publically that I, teh criminal mastermind that I am, received a $75 ticket for burning sticks on the wrong day. Now, anytime a friend is going to burn leaves, sticks, or trash … I get a smart-aleck e-mail asking me if it is a “burn day or non-burn day”
What is the justification for legally printing their names v. keeping it private? I agree with you, it seems that if they are a legit threat that their names are made public, that they should be in jail/prison. Something seems inconsistent. Is it the “we can’t legally lock them up, so we’ll print their name to the public”?
The lists are good. Sitting in a prison cell for your sentence does not cure the urges. I agree that people should be able to start over after they pay their debt to society, but I am not willing to risk the innocence of my children for that principle. However, if you think about paying your debt to society, you need to complete your sentence for this to be a valid argument. When you are convicted of a sex crime, part of your sentence is having to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. So when you die, you have fulfiled your sentence and your debt is paid in full. At that point, I agree you shouldn’t have to register.
However, if you think about paying your debt to society, you need to complete your sentence for this to be a valid argument. When you are convicted of a sex crime, part of your sentence is having to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life.
For the hard core offenses you typically think of when you hear “sexual predator” or “sex offender”, I think it’s a pretty good deal, better than they deserve. I think many parents would be quite comfortable seeing someone who did this to their kids die. I think if it was mine that I’d be willing to help out with releiving them of their disorder.
On the other hand, there are also people on that list in our area who had sex with a 17 year old when they were 18, and the parents found out and pressed charges. Some of them are even married to their “victim” now. For those people, it’s a bum rap, and for me as a parent, it’s tough not knowing who on the list is one vs the other.
There was an interesting write-up recently in the local paper. We got hit by a major hurricane, and a couple of months after, someone noticed that they had completely lost track of the registered offenders. After an appeal in the local paper, many voluntarily registered, and a few had to be tracked down. Some went back to jail for pruposefully evading re-registration.
The sexual predator list is fine , but some laws go to far . I can’t remember the exact ages but it was like a 17 yr old girl and 18 yr old boy friend got busted having sex , by the girls mom. They called the police and Now he is a sex offender .
Me too although mine are grown now. I guess I would always come down on the side of too much information when it comes to violent sex offenders living on my block. I did a Megan’s Law check of my city and there 241 in my city of 50,000 and 8 within 1 mile of my house. Their infractions are lewd conduct of a child under 14, sodomy of a child under 14 and forceable rape. Most of these fine citizens are going to be repeat offenders. Not only should they be monitored by websites with their pictures, adresses and names posted, I support any efforts to run them out of town. If you sexually abuse a child, you forfeit all rights to humane treatment forever IMHO. But that’s just me.
I wonder why those people are living anywhere near you, unless you live within a mile of a prison. This is my point exactly. We know that more than likely they are going to be repeat offenders. Why then are they allowed back into society? Where can they go that they won’t be a danger to someone? Are there actually people out there who don’t want them in prison? Why can’t our sentencing guidelines take this into account?
I realize that you probably didn’t mean it this way, but when you say that you “support any effort to run them out of town,” it brings up images in my head of torches and pitch forks being wielded by an angry mob! And I am certain that you would never do anything illegal given information. But I also believe that given identifying personal information of this nature probably puts some of these criminals in danger from “vigilante justice.” While I personally believe that MUCH harsher penalties need to be dealt out, I think that it is within our justice system that it should be done.
We know that more than likely they are going to be repeat offenders. Why then are they allowed back into society?
Are there studies that show this? I’m curious, and I really don’t know. What % are repeats, etc?
Department of Justice figures show that sexual offenders are at least
twice as likely to repeat their original offense or commit a similar
crime as other repeat offenders.
In California alone last year, 25% of the 65,000 sex offenders who were
paroled went on to commit another sexual assault.
Very fortunate for you that you do not live near a prison. We have a medium security deal about 5 miles south of here. No real problems occur there that I am aware of. We also have a boys’ juvenile prison here in the county, but it is quite a distance from me. It seems that I read about that place in news more often then the other.
Thanks for clarifying the “effort to run them out of town.” The previous image was not pretty!
Back when I lived in Concord, CA in the 80’s, there was a guy named Singleton that was paroled after a life of sexual offenses with the last being chopping a young girls arms off with an ax and leaving her by the road to die. Anyway, they tried to parole the guy to Concord. The residents heard about it and showed up at the motel he was staying at in large angry numbers. They moved him and every other place he showed up, same reaction. He had to live on prison grounds during his parole in a mobile home. He then moved to FL and killed another girl and died in prison. I supprt this kind of treatment for sex offenders.
Parents have an obligation to protect their kids. If you, as a parent, decided not to read pertinent information that could protect them from harm what kind of parent are you? The facts presented here only show what is “proved” and that should be shocking because for ever known repeat crime how many are unknown/multiple? Sexual offenders are great at befriending your kids and then abusing them. If you don’t regulraly read whatever site is applicable to protecting your kids, Megans site in CA, then you are failing as a parent.
I have no problem with the sites that list offenders such as your speaking of. However alot of these sites list sexual offenders that are the 20yr old dating a 17yr old type as well. That I disagree with.
At one time I looked at several of teh “locals” and did some calculations and alot fo them were 19-22yrs old at the time the “victom” was “under 18”.
Again if these individuals raped someone taht is one issuse, however at teh time there was little definition and I’m guessing alot of these were simply busted by pissed off parents.
I justed looked again and it looks like the new site shows a little more info. Things like “Bodily Harm” and they do highlight the “Sexual preditors” on the list. But they still have the “CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE/VIC 13-17” on some guy who’s 19 or so. Again I guess if he’s going after a 13 year old and raping them they should be on here. But if he’s some 19yr old dating a a 17 or 16 year old and her parents get pissed, the dude shoudln’t be publicly shamed and hung out to dry for the rest of his life as a “sex offender”.
Matt, I looked at every perp in my city this morning on the Megan’s Law site. Not one of them was listed for anything you cite. They were all for crimes on kids under 14 including lewd conduct, rape, sodomy and bodily harm. Again I come down on the side of too much info is better.
Born 3/30/1984 so he’s 21 now. Assuming a year or so to get him up here, trial etc he could have been as young as 19 or so at the time of the crime which is listed as CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE/VIC 13-17
Again maybe I’m wrong here and it has to be a “violent” crime to get up here but this isn’t to clear.
**However, if you think about paying your debt to society, you need to complete your sentence for this to be a valid argument. When you are convicted of a sex crime, part of your sentence is having to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. **
very good point
Except that it’s not true. In California, the registration requirement applies retroactively to convictions that pre-date the registration requirement. When those offenders were convicted, registration was not part of their sentence.