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May 1, 2005
Sex (offenders) in the city
I now have had a chance to read the Eighth Circuit's decision in Doe v. Miller, No. 04-1568 (8th Cir. Apr. 29, 2005) (available here), which upholds against numerous constitutional challenges Iowa's legislation which "prohibits a person convicted of certain sex offenses involving minors from residing within 2000 feet of a school or a registered child care facility." As noted in this post, Mike at Crime & Federalism has already blogged up a storm about the case, and his three posts here and here and here (along with the comments) get to the heart of the legal and policy issues in the case. Concerning Doe itself, I will just add that the case is especially interesting for its substantive due process analysis and also for its reliance on "common sense" rather than hard evidence about sex offender reoffending. Also, the Doe decision, which provides a thoughtful review of a range of sex offender law and policy issues, provides a helpful list in footnote 4 of the twelve other state statutes that place residency restrictions on sex offenders.
Though a lot more could be said about Doe, the broader story is the new social panic about sex offenders which is, like so many criminal justice developments, driven by headline-making anecdotes of horrible individual cases rather than by refined data-driven policy analysis. (I have prior sex offender posts on the power of the headline-making crime and on the surprising and encouraging data about sex offenses and offenders.) Tellingly, this New York Times article today details that Florida, prompted by two terrible crimes, "will soon begin the nation's most aggressive monitoring of child molesters at a time when dozens of states and localities are re-examining their policies." The NY Times article provides an effective national overview of sex offender developments, though the article lacks a refined discussion of the reach and efficacy of what has now been a decade of new criminal laws focused on sex offenses and offenders.
I am concerned about refined discussions of these laws because I fear they can often be written in broad ways that may harmfully fail to distinguish the truly dangerous from others. Though the term sex offender often brings to mind the worst child molester, many sex offender laws can encompass persons who had underage consensual sex or who merely downloaded the wrong dirty pictures of the internet. (Consider the work of the group of Save Our TexSONS, which seeks to prevent "unfair use of [sex offender] laws to prosecute teenagers engaging in consensual sex.")
Relatedly, I fear that broad residency restrictions, which may prevent offenders from living in cities or other areas in which treatment and support services are more readily available, may undermine efforts to keep sex offenders from reoffending. What seems most important to me is that there are follow-up studies and analyses of the efficacy of the sex offender laws which are now being considered a passed during this period of panic.
May 1, 2005 at 09:26 AM | Permalink
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I have heard recently that some states are trying to pass a law forcing all level three sex offenders who have been released from prison and are now living in society to be sent back to prison for life with no questions asked. Is that possible? How can that happen. Do you know anything about this or anything about where I can find out if this is true or not. I really need some answers and some help with this. Thank you for any help that you can give me.
Posted by: Rebecca S. Granger | May 14, 2005 8:14:22 AM
Much as I dislike sex offenders of any kind I think it is wrong to put them all in prison for life even if it could be done. Abuse betray and torture of anyone sexually is easily the most horrid of crimes immaginable. Granted their are some sexual offenders who are so sick they deserve nothing less than the death penalty. Certainly other sex offenders are so beyond recovery in their depravity that they richly deserve life behind bars with no possibility of parole.
I do feel however that their is a subset of sexual criminals who with the most careful notification and monitoring systems in place could be allowed to participate in a limited way in the community. I think throwing even a degenerate sex criminal away giving up hope of them ever rising above their past is wrong. I would never trust a sex criminal around children again ever but, they can work, have a home in areas away from children and contribute to life.
I do not think anyone could get away with making a law that forced all released sex offenders back into prison after having paid their debt to society. I have no love for sex offenders but, even I think tossing them all back in prison forever is going too far!
Posted by: Wolf | Jul 3, 2005 3:20:03 AM
The simple fact is, what has made all of this possible in the first place is computer technology. There's already talk of registering other types of offenders and even people associated with certain groups. See Sheriff Baca in California who wants a registery for skin heads and neo-nazi groups.
Here's what's in our future in no particular order:
Special license plates for DWI offendors, Sex Offendors and any other kind of offender.
GPS tracking for all felons.
Zoning felons to specific geographic areas. This already occurs by rent restrictions.
Sex Offenders and other felons will be denied health care, education and being admitted into an 'old age' home. ( This is already happening. )
All of this will lead to:
Automatic lifetime incarceration for all sex offenses.
Death Penalty for any 'contact' sex offenses.
From there...other things will happen.
There is NO DOUBT in my mind, that America has been lost. When you have a Supreme Court that says going back and making someone register AFTER their sentence is done is not a violation of the constitution, why even HAVE a constitution. It's laughable on it's face. Corporations can now confiscate private property. The list goes on. Why does THIS surprise anyone.
America is dead and CNN and FOX and your local TV reporters KILLED IT with 'what bleeds, leads' giving America the impression that you need to live inside a fortress and your computer will keep you safe because if you just 'knew who the bad guys were you could' ...you could...uhmmm...uhmmm...BE MORE AFRAID. Meanwhile, anything of substance that they should be using the airwaves for, is non-existant.
Remember the boy scout recently lost in Utah, he EVADED the people looking for him for four days for FEAR OF BEING KIDNAPPED. It's a mindset in our culture.
I'll say it again and again and again. Statistically the most potentially dangerous person to your child is....YOU or someone in your family. Further, over 80% of sex offenses are committed by someone who doesn't have a prior record.
It's over, man. This society, the people of this nation, aren't deserving of what was given to them because there are too many people willing to piss it away with such ease.
James Madison said, 'I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.'
Those founding fathers said a lot of good things that we've seemed to have tossed out the window.
'They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither.'
- Benjamin Franklin
Oh well, we made it for 220 years, then the computer came along and everyone went insane. Ted Kaczynski was right. How funny is that ? This decline in civil liberties began in the 90's. Ruby Ridge, Waco. You don't think so ?
How many children did the US Government kill at Waco, burned to a crisp ? 33 was it ? Shot Randy Weavers wife standing in the door of his house holding his 15 month old daughter with a sniper rifle. Killed her dead. Why ? Because he wouldn't cooperate with them and become an informant.
I have a question. If we 'won the cold war' then why are we acting more like THEM now, the people who we fought all those years, than they do ?
You can no longer travel to Canada or Mexico, that is LEAVE this country without a passport that is of course, issued by the federal government starting in 2007. We're sealing the border up to...KEEP PEOPLE IN. Wasn't there another country that used to do that. Who WAS it that did that kind of thing again ?
Pssst....The US didn't win the cold war. We're just in the 'selling off' phase.
Show me your paperssss ....
People better wake up before it's too late. You may have to stand up for the rights of some people you dont' like but remember you may need them when they come after you, brother.
Posted by: xso | Jul 14, 2005 4:18:34 AM
Although I am not a sex offender, I do have some experience in persecution. I am a felon, convicted 6 years ago. What many people do not realize is that for a felon of any kind, it's not "just your sentance". Even though you're qualified for a job, many places will dismiss your application immediately if there is a conviction on your record. Now, I know many will say, "Well, that's what you deserve." The only problem I have with that is....I have already paid my debt to the public, in jail and financially. Should I still have to pay my debt by not being able to get a job? I was one of the lucky ones. I was blessed enough to have someone take a chance on me, and now have a good job. Unfortunately, my story is one of the few and far between in America. Remember, felons are people too...they are not their crime.
Posted by: Walker Boh | Oct 28, 2005 11:48:05 PM
I just want to say" yes Im a Sex offender". Im sorry for what I did and wish I could turn back the clock and make better decisions. Its been now 10 years since my crime. I havent re offended. Im on the internet I have to register with the city and state. Im on record with the FBI. They have my DNA. I have to lie to get a job I have to lie to have a place to live. I fear someone could find out about me.I just want to be left alone to live in peace. I did the crime I did the time. 4 years of theraphy. I hate it when someone commits another crime. people get mad and I dont blame them. Of couse then they want to punish me all over again. Change the law to make my life hell again. They group us all together. I understand your fears. I dont think I want a sex offender living next to me either. The world we live in isnt safe. We need to watch our children. What you really need to think about is this: Its the Sex offender that hasnt been caught. What more do you want from me.
Posted by: Andrew | May 3, 2006 10:52:06 AM
My story is the same as Andrew's. In 1995 I was convicted of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree. I was given times served which was three months and 5 yrs probation. I attended one on one therapy for the entire probabtionary period and some. I was required by law to register with NYS dept of criminal justice Sex offender regisry. At the time of registration, i was required to reregister every year for 10 yrs. I abided by the local laws as well. I have rebuilt my life from losing everything to what i have now. Now when my 10 year obligation was close to an end, a new law passed requiring all level 1 registered sex offenders have thier obligation extended another ten years. Now I am suffering again. At times I feel I would have been better off in jail. I was given a sentence as required by law and followed its rules. I have never reoffended nor have I ever been in trouble with any law enforcement authorities. I lost my life when I committed an unspeakable act resulting losing my wife home and dignity as i should have. I feel that after all I have done since my conviction has ammounted to nothing. I do have a very good job, a car and excellent credit. I committed my crime in NYS. Now i live in Florida. Believe me it is no joy living in Florida either. Florida's Law pertaining to sex offenders are very very intense and are strictly enforced. I worry every day what will happen next for all offenders. Lifetime encarceration is not the solution. Whats next, Public burning. I now live with my younger sister and her family because i cant rent an apartment anywhere in Florida. All landlord and apartment complexes run credit checks and criminal background checks. Application state that sex offenses of anykind are grounds for disqualification. I cant buy a home because i am not able to live within 1/2 mile of any playgrounds, schools of anykind and daycare centers. Even towns in SW Florida Ban registered sex offenders from thier towns.
We are for ever paying for our crime. I also understand society's concern. Sex offenses of anykind are sick especially when young children are the victims. I have nieces and nephews. I pray everyday for their safety. And the Laws do protect them. However, the laws are for ever changing to make punishment more severe. We have nobody to speak out for us. We are constantly dealing with double jeapordy which are in violation of the Laws which are enforced by courts. But when it comes to sex offenders everyone looks the other way. Drug dealers and murderers have it better. I dont mean to compare,but they are not required to register and are able to live near schools and playgrounds etc. I dont want my family killed or drugged up either. Sorry to babble. Most newly reported offenses are from people who have never been caught before. My family will forever live in shame thanks to the new laws. And I may soon be homeless.
Posted by: Michael | May 19, 2006 8:13:51 PM
I am also a registered sex offender. I recently lost my job, now with all the background checks that *everyone* does I am finding it impossible to find a job. People can do background checks without your approval as long as they have your social security number and personal information. Of course they don't *tell* you that you were not considered because of that because it would make them possible targets for a lawsuit. All you get is "well you just didn't fit the qualifications". I have been told this by people who found my resume on the net and were seeking *me* out because of my qualifications.
So let's see, we are not supposed to have jobs, or places to live. I am not a violent offender but I can see why violent offenders re-offend. It upsets me but I just have to go on.
I have custody of my two sons and if I don't get work soon, we will be out on our proverbial ears.
I paid my dues, did my probation clean AND counseling and would like to get on with my life, however society doesn't want it that way.
You know, they have all of these sex offender web pages, why not set one up for murderers, put police and public officials at the front. How long would that stay up before they found a reason to shut it down?
Posted by: Ty | Jun 8, 2006 2:37:48 PM
Hi, I am the wife of a registered sexoffender. My husband has been off parole since 2000 and instead of getting easier, life is getting harder. After dealing with harrasment and being politely (yarite) asked to move from our home in Washington state some friends talked us into moving to Kentucky.That was almost 3 years ago and just 2 weeks ago he was finally able to get a job. Now after living in this house for almost three years our landlord started talking to us about us buying it from him. (Incidently don't give up completely there are great landlords out there)Anyways what happened is this great state we live in decided to toughen up the laws on where we can live so buying this place is out of the question because we are 150 shy of the 1000 foot restriction of living near a playground.The funny thing is we didn't even know there was a playground around till this came about. We dont get out much, I'm sure you all know about that, its easier to stay home and avoid the stares.Hey maybe we should all get together and buy a few hundered acres and open up a mobile home community for registered offender and their families.
Posted by: Darlene | Jun 15, 2006 10:47:29 PM
all these laws come from the BIBLE...Any deviation from the book will get you all the pink triangle!!!
Posted by: ANON | Jun 26, 2006 1:00:53 AM
Hi, I too have been convicted of a sex crime and like so many others I've been reading about, I've served my time yet I'm still being punished. What's so different in my case is that my step daughter told the prosecuter that she'd lied in her accusation. How did the State handle this bit of info?, they made her a hostile witness and tried the case anyway.After serving five years in prison I'm now serving five years on probation For a crime I DID NOT commit! Oh yeah, did I mention that I had to take sex offender classes and polygraph tests. Well the classes and polygraphs were suppose to continue until I complete the full five years of probation, but wouldn't you know ALL MY POLYGRAPH RESULTS POINTS TO MY INNOCENTS! Imagine that. During the one year I spent in class, the State hired expert on sex offenders stated verbally and in his evaluation of me that in his expert opinion I WAS NOT A PREDATOR...imagine that. Well I said all of that to say this, If a person is guilty of such a hideous offense or any offense, then that person is deserving of their fate because NO child should have to be subjected to that kind of treatment; but if a person is innocent, don't condem a person to a life of misery. I gave this country twenty-one (21) years of my life fighting for the rights of the American people as a serviceman. I've been shot at, deprived of sleep, spat on, and yes even pissed on, all for the rights of the people of this country, yet today because of an over-zealous prosecutor and a law that is unconstitutional, I'm on the verge of being homeless. All I can say to that is I'm ashame to be part of such a country and so many others should be ashamed of supporting such a insane law, all for the support of greedy political constiuants.
Posted by: JR | Jul 10, 2006 5:30:36 PM
It's my understanding that most registered sex offenders are juveniles,children you could say,and probably most engaged in sex with a female ,who was willing,but not of legal age,the law for legal age in my opinion is to strict,people engage in intimacy,because they like each other,5 years age difference means nothing to most people who want to engage in sex,it's called dateing ,or human relationships,natural and normal,and for doing this people are being severly punished,the laws are creating more stress and issues for them and makeing matters all around worse,what is a true pedophile,i believe most offenders are not a danger to society,the laws to restrict where a registered sex offender can live is ignorance of are goverment,because in my opinion that won't stop any offender who wants to reoffend,he or she will just find a victim somewhere,and in the mean time offenders who want to have a better life,the state makes it almost impossible to survive for them and their families.I know first hand,when an offender gets sentenced to prison,they don't get treatment until almost the end of their sentence,what good does that do,when a baby does something wrong,do u ignore and punish a week later,no,they don't learn that way,society and the goverment in my opinion,don't know how to handle this correctly,and it is never going to be resolved as long as humans are born,and we have natural tendencies,support groups,awareness,i mean it's to the point,that if you look at someone,they can feel it's sexual harrassment,we are to sensitive,i don't believe prison helps at all,i feel a rehab center,like we have for drug addicts,alcohol addicts is a much better solution,
even sentenced to a mental facility,that has good professional help,revenge is never a solution,maybe it's time sex offenders stood up and voiced their opinions publicly,maybe as a group,wore signs saying they are sex offenders,that would put some fear in are goverment,because pressure would be high,to control public outrage,the goverment would want to curb problems ,stand up and fight i say,where is any help for sex offenders from the public or are goverment.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Posted by: Dorothy | Jul 16, 2006 3:23:16 PM
I am the wife of a sex offender. My husband will be on probation for 10 years and the DA wants him to register as a sex offender. The girl that filed the complaint, also made the same complaint against 3 other men, she waited 20 years to do this and the DA has no solid concrete proof ( medical records) that anything sexual happened to her when she was a child. She has lied so many times during the past 2 years and the bad part, my husband and I are totally broke. We have no more money to fight this, so our life is screwed all because this girl didn't get what she wanted, which is my husband. How do you go on?
Posted by: | Jul 17, 2006 8:16:10 AM
This site is a beginning,i am wondering if it would be legal,for everyone who sees this site to print these stories and pass them around,the public needs awareness.I am a mother of 54,3 son's,1 daughter,my oldest son was married,but seperated,seeing his wife on the side and had a girlfried also,he couldn't make up his mind who he wanted,the girlfriend didn't like that,she would get angry and say they were finished,but she would be back a couple days later,they were doing this for like almost a year and a half,in between that time,my next oldest son,him being a good friend of hers,they got together,both my son's left her,then soon afterwards,she accused my oldest son of rapeing her,in my home,when there were half a dozen people here then,he didn't get charged,i was thankful,but within a scope of less then 4 months after that,the girlfriend and her best girlfriend told the police my other 2 sons,raped and molested their children,my sons has no defense,for the fact that they did on occasion babysit those children,and when you have 3 children against 1,the state isn't going to believe you,imagine how terrible it has been for me,all 3 of my sons in a timeframe of less then 4 months accused of sex crimes,i came close to commiting suicide a couple of times,1 son is still in prison,i have to survive to be supportive to him,so i do know what sex offenders have to deal with in their daily life.I am scared,and i didn't do anything wrong,but the entire family unit gets broken apart.
A mother A friend A human being
Posted by: Dorothy | Jul 18, 2006 10:00:33 PM
As A Registered Offender all i can say is that the law has taken this"bandwagon"too far for it's own good.I was found guilty of having consensual sex with a 15 year old girl when i was 20.My Original charges were Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child,the Sex Assault was quickly dismissed when the girl stood up and told the jury that she actually initiated the sex and pursued a relationship with me.The Endangering Child charge stuck because regardless of who initiated the acts it was still against the law.I Served 6 Months in Monmouth County Correctional Facility and released to my home on 2 Years Probation and Community Supervision For Life!I have Been Assessed By The Mon.Cty Prosecuters As a Level 2{moderate Risk)Because I used to drink and have experimented with drugs in the past.What that has to do with reoffending now I still havn't figured out,but I have been sober four years now.I am not a threat to anyone!Never Have Been!Never Will Be!In fact the severity of my crime was so insignificant that I am not even listed on the internet registry in NJ.But i can be added at any time.I must reregister with local police annually.I am not allowed to live within 1000 feet of places where children congregate and cannot take my own children trick or treating on halloween or answer the door when girl scouts(or boy scouts)are going door to door selling cookies or candy.WHY? Because I am in the same "Group" as the real monsters who might actually lure one of the scouts inside his home and steal the innocence and,or life of a defenseless child.I understand the purpose,or the idea behind the registry is to protect the public from all of us MONSTERS!,but botomline is that we are not all monsters and something definately needs to be done to differentiate the registrants who might pose a threat of reoffending and the 1000's of guys like me who wood pick up your son or daughter and carry them home if they fell off their bike and hurt their leg and needed help.If I tried to help a child now i would go to prison.All Because i made a stupid mistake 5 years ago.Sorry but i dont belong in that "group"! The list original intention was for the police to keep an eye on predators.Now any one of you reading this can wind up on it simply for not being able to reach a bathroom and relieving yourself where a child jus happened to see your private areas.So I hope everyone is happy and feels safe,you all helped this list become the real MONSTER! Destroying Lives Of People that dont deserve it adding punishment after the fact.One Day A Sex Offender legally purchases a new home for him and his family,a week later he has 90 days to move or go to prison because the law changed once again and now he lives within 1000 feet of a daycare center that is being constructed.Will a mass suicide of all sex offenders who's lives have been destroyed by a mistake make them see that they have taken it,and continue to take it,way too far?That the laws they are enacting need to be rethought and revised in so many ways.Probably not even that would help them understand the injustice.Unless some of the creators jus happened to be related to or knows personally somehow,one of the deceased who took his own life because he was tired of moving every month,and couldn't find a job,and had neighbors picketing outside his door telling him he doesn't belong there.The laws going into affect daily are hate crimes,and the people passing them need to open their eyes and see that. I am forming a group to rise up as an army and fight this travesty.We arn't doing anything to help ourselves on this underground website.I will lead the revolt I jus need supporters.We cant let this continue to destroy lives of people that dont deserve it the time has come speak up!!!These stories almost brought tears to my eyes.I was tought at a young age to speak up and fight for what is right.I have done excactly that my whole life.Dont be afraid .What do we have to lose?Seriously think what more can thay take from us if we publicly cry out and fight them?You Cant Treaten A Man Who Has Nothing Left To Take!!!!!
Posted by: Jay | Jul 23, 2006 7:19:17 PM
I am appalled at the amount of young boys lives being ruined by labeling them as you would a true rapist and sex abusers. We all need to stop typing on the internet and organize. Start coalitions, form groups, talk to our politicians, contact media. This has to stop and we have to do it!!!
Posted by: deb | Jul 28, 2006 2:57:27 PM
Lets help the innocent help change the law
Posted by: rozlyn | Aug 6, 2006 11:38:21 PM
Please email me if willing to help fight.
Posted by: Jay | Aug 8, 2006 6:55:42 PM
I am the girlfriend/fiance of a NON-predatory sex offender living in Oregon, we were planning on getting married soon. The charge that he got was NOT on a minor, it was on the mother of his children. They got into a fight over her cheating, she fabricates some story, he goes to prison & here we are. His parole officer recently showed up at my house and told him he could not be at my house because I have a child living in the house, told him to leave and not come back. The next day he was givin a new restriction from his parole officer to not frequent me or any place that I reside. Regardless of my child being home or not it is still a violation and would probably get children services involved. He is not some pedophile, or rapist. The relationship with his own children has suffered it's toll and now our relationship is being destroyed. Had we gotten married would he have been allowed in our home then? Are there anyways around this so we can continue our lives together? Please email me if anyone has any information on this.
Posted by: Crystal | Aug 11, 2006 1:04:25 PM
I just read several of the posts on the internet re: what sex offenders have to go through for the rest of their lives. In my case, I got two massages for fifteen minutes in lieu of a repayment from a foreign exchange student who wanted to stay with me, a single male, in my apartment. She turned out to be a weird, spoiled person who was fifteen years old. Yes, I was naked in my apartment, and that is against the law. But, should that be a lifetime sentence? I did not have sex with her. I applied aloe vera on her sunburn after spending an hour at the beach, so that was another charge against me, because one may not have any contact with a minor. My behavior was not correct, but I did not do something deserving of a life sentence. Yet, in this country, that is what I received, because I have to register as a sex offender like many of the other posters here. The girl added that I masturbated in front of her, which is ludicrous, because I have never done such a thing in front of anyone. She was mad at me for yelling at her that she should not stay on the computer for so many hours at a time, and that she needed to answer when someone spoke to her. I speak her native language, so that was not a consideration. That incident happened to be on the day that she was finally placed with a host family for the school year. She was only supposed to be with me for a few days, but it turned into a couple of weeks. That has been five years ago now, but for the rest of my life, I will always regret letting a stranger who was a minor into my living space.
One person asked, how do you go on? Days like yesterday I foundd myself not wanting to go on. What's the point? I have no career anymore. I'll never have a career in this country again. At 48, who would want to hire me for a job that I don't have experience doing? The longer I have to do manual labor just to survive, the less thrilled I am about my existence. Men have a tendency to withdraw, to isolate, which is also what I have done. That compounds the loneliness, disappointments, and feelings that life really won't get any better. Even my probation officer told me that it won't get better. It will just go on.
Some may ask if I have turned my life over to God to make this his burden. Yes, I have. But I still have human feelings and emotions. Being ostracized by our society, having to live with the notion that I bear an ugly label like a scarlet letter worse than a murderer's is very unpleasant for me. Knowing that the money, thousands of dollars, I paid the lying attorneys went to support their continued tactics of deceiving other clients still makes me angry. My last attorney said he didn't want to say anything bad about the girl, because it would make us look bad. Huh? Some of what she said was false. It was not true. It was a lie. It was a misconception. But, instead of defending me like an attorney should, when I told him that I had no more money to pay him after several months of him dragging the case along, he told me to plead guilty. That's just wrong. How does one win? There is no winning. I won't be surprised when the day comes that I finally throw in the towel. Eleven more months of a five-year probation, plus fines, incarceration, sex offender classes for 20 months, and the rest lead to what? A better life here? With the way this country is heading, we are becoming the model enemy of the people, by the people, and for the people. We no longer can point a finger at communists and say how bad they treat their citizens. Our country has the highest per capita rate of incarceration than any other nation in the world! This is the land of the free? We cannot build jails and prisons fast enough to house more "criminals" who will forever have a poorer life. Economically, would it not make more sense to allow citizens who paid their debt to society to try and earn as much money as possible? Embrace capitalism. Then they would contribute to the economy by paying more taxes, hiring other workers, building more businesses, and understanding the plight of the underprivileged. Instead, the policies keep changing to go backward.
Over a year ago I went back to court to ask the judge to let me change to informal probation. Without even talking to me like a person, he immediately said that I was not sorry enough. He said that I kept the girl in the apartment against her will. What the heck? I tried every day to have her counselor find a home for her, but she was too busy with other things in her life. Because she didn't do her job, I put myself in a very bad situation, and will never recover. How do you go on? What's the point?
Posted by: Rick | Aug 13, 2006 11:03:15 AM
not all accussed offenders are guilty so why should all have to suffer.
Posted by: yulonnda | Aug 16, 2006 4:30:10 PM
not all accussed offenders are guilty so why should all have to suffer.
Posted by: yulonnda | Aug 16, 2006 4:30:14 PM
I too have suffered living as a sex offender. I don't know how to go on anymore. I have finally decided to give up and it has made me into an angry person. I despise society and all children. So much that I decided to help animals more instead of human kind. I have no reason to live in this cruel world anymore. Always helping others in life and being good, and this is how I get treated in return. America is truely a messed up continent, after probation I will most certainly live in another country at least I wont have to register over there.
Posted by: Vegan | Aug 23, 2006 2:51:46 AM
I concur. For years I helped others. I went out of my way to be the nice guy. I took in this stranger. Damn it. But, my level of interest in this life is very low. Even when I finally get off probation after five worthless years of stagnation here, what will it have served society? My plan, also, is to leave this country. But, frankly, I don't even care to try to start over somewhere else. Part of the problem is that I keep waking up the next day. I ask God to fix that problem for me, but he hasn't done anything quite yet. I won't be missed when I'm gone. People don't want one around for long if one isn't doing something for free like I used to do. I'm just over this whole scene. As a child growing up in a poor family, I often felt sorry for my mother who begged God to "take her home." Her pain has become my reality. That is, her pain of existence. She died in 1992, so she has been free for a long time. The one I miss the most, though, is my dog. Friends have let me down. Siblings don't care enough to pick up the phone or visit me. I have to do manual labor to survive, and then I isolate until it's time to face the new day. Hopefully my spirit will once again soar when I leave this country. In a year from now someone may read my post and wonder about me. Did I make it out of here alive? Maybe in body, but I'm not so sure about my spirit.
Posted by: Rick | Sep 2, 2006 4:56:22 AM
I'm the wife of an offender with an old conviction. How old? The Iran-Hostage crisis hadn't happened yet, that's how old.
Now, after decades of doing nothing wrong, he's suddenly being treated as a dangerous predator. He can't even take our son to the park anymore, or go watch him play sports. Oh, and we might have to move now. My husband thinks the best thing he can do for his son right now is die. Living a law-abiding life doesn't matter, and it doesn't matter that he's dedicated his life to helping others, and it doesn't matter that everyone who knows him--even law enforcement who come to our house every month, as if he was on parole or something--think it's stupid and wrong to do this to him.
But it doesn't matter. There's no appeal because it isn't "punishment" to be ordered out of all your own child's activities, to be ordered out of your own home. It isn't "punishment" to be subjected to death threats and vandalism, either, apparently.
But you know what? Someday the rest of the country will figure out that all those court decisions don't just apply to sex offenders. If none of that crap above is punishment for my family, it isn't for yours, either. Equal protection and all that. If the government decides that something in your past makes you dangerous to anyone--doesn't even have to be a conviction anymore, check out Ohio's new registry--thwy can do whatever they want because it's just a "regulation." They don't even have to prove they're right. They just have to say they "believe" they're right.
So it's okay for the state to put legal bullets into my family's heart. It isn't punishment, of course. Just there to protect the children--except mine. Doesn't seem like he counts to anyone but me and his father.
Posted by: Hali | Sep 8, 2006 10:50:55 PM
How do we fight to change the registry laws? My brother in law was arrested 17 years ago for fighting with his girlfriend. She cried rape and he copped a plea for sexual battery. He now has to register as a sex offender and cannot get into a halfway house for his drug treatment because of this status. Why is there not a separation between this and child predators and serial rapists? 17 years ago there was not a registry and who would have known that copping a plea like this would change his life forever? Each time he goes to rehap, they kick him out of halfway houses because of the status. There is no where for him to turn.
Posted by: Lisa DeLaurentiis | Sep 26, 2006 11:38:03 AM
