Have we reached the sex offender registration tipping point?
According to Merriam and Webster, a tipping point is the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.
Maybe overload point would be a better descriptor.
In Chicago, a sort of tipping point seems to have been reached at the Chicago Police Department where registrants must renew their registration every year. They must also report any changes to this office within three days–changes like an address, a job–losing one or getting one–or enrollment in any school.
They start lining up before 6 a.m. in the well-below freezing weather, in the dark, pre-dawn hours of an Illinois winter. They wait for hours. Some make it in; some don’t. Some are in violation because their three-day window closed during the days they stood there, unable to get in. The line is “cut” at noon, which means anyone still in line will not be processed, no matter how long they have been there. The office says it is open until three. A reporter who has monitored the situation for two weeks has observed the doors being locked before one in spite of the advertised hours of business being 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
finish reading: http://with-justiceforall.blogspot.com/2014/03/have-we-reached-sex-offender.html
Chicago isn’t the only place doing this. It’s all over this country, and right here in California. When i began registering, i simply called ahead of time, made an appointment with my local police department and then updated my registration.
Now, that same place limits availability to a 2 hour window, once a week. If time frames are required on individuals for registration, then the registration office must remain open and staffed 24/7 to accommodate people who are willing to take any job they can get, even if that means night shifts or bad hours.
I personally know of three people who’ve been violated because it was impossible for them to follow the rules of registration. One of them is still in prison because of it and because of that, is no longer able to petition to be removed from Megans’ Law registry.
In New Orleans You must wait 4-6 weeks in some cases for do your anual registration. With no reciept or letter stating that fact from the registration office. I have documented proof of this. When I complain that ” this office if forcing me to break the law and force me into non compliance.” I am told that there is a jail cell waiting for me now.
I have taken my concern to the higher ranking officer in the NOPD, the office of the city prosecutor, the FBI, the probation department. No one will listen.
All I want to do is complete my term of exterior incarceration in accordance with the laws that I have been held to.
I would like to say that when a person “Man” is forced to sign a paper that gives all authority figures the right to restrict …the “Offender” or stay rotting in jail….THIS IS A VIOLATION OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS! which in and of its self is not suppose to just happen!, because if it this happened in the past, lets say 15-20 years ago….once offended certainly does not mean a continuing thing! so is this justice! “The Law is Breaking the Law! To be released with stipulations, restrictions, etc for a life sentence is ridiculous ! If Hannabal Lector broke out of prison ..Of Course! but the case after case of average prisoner should not be happening! Of course in the name of the law! it is done after all, they could, might do it again ! according to some skewed statistic “Recidivisim” yes, some clearly need more help than others! HELP does not mean Forced Coercion or manipulating the laws to get what the majority want based/Drawn off the “Fears and bulled Laws! People have the right to have representation and legal rights already at this point! Most offenders are given a short time to present themselves to a committee after release to determine what tier level and if they should be put on the registry! This of course is difficult for released prisoners, why? well who is representing them to ensure they are not dragged on and on into a deeper controlling system and all possibilities for a healthy life is disrupted! How does a man be normal, act normal, and feel normal ! How can a man be a Citizen of this Country and have NO Core/basic/fundamental rights ????Unbelievable!
If a armed bank robber kills a teller and is later caught! does the law/Society say and record every move after the robbers is served the full penalty and is released are they Labeling, berating, targeting him! Does the law put laws in effect that bar him from ever dealing with banks (near, around), financial institutions etc! Ridiculous! Example, again! Does a one time homosexual act make one a homosexual? or if a young person steals several times, are they labeled etc. a habitual offender or given continual punishment? Does the Law have the right to destroy lives! health, financial well being or reputations, with fear based Laws?
Thanks! for listening!
To Whom this may concern,
I grew up being taught NO means NO, which I fully understood and I was taught by my Parents to respect ladies and their wishes. Never did I understand (in those young adult days), that when they say YES it means NO if they are not old enough to decide. ( i didn’t have a law degree at age 19)
I was a shy young kid who didn’t have to many girlfriends. When I was NineTEEN years old I was a typical Young Dumb guy who was considered an Adult by Law, but still a Teen Kid At Heart, who failed to verify the age of another TEEN. Which this teen girl said and looked 16, (which is still a crime, & I now know & understand that she was not old enough to consent)
I have been on the registry for many years now, and when I was sentenced, I agreed to a 6 year suspended sentence, and to register for 10 years, and complete rehabilitation treatment. Probation is done, Treatments Done (very low threat status), and now Illinois labels me a sexual predator, and says life registration should fit my crime better.
Anyways, as I have endured this punishment and traveled this journey, I have come to realize that the system is not setup to protect people at all. Not even (non-criminalized citizens).
I have come to this conclusion, as I now 33 years old, The registry has caused so many relationships to fail due to every woman I have dated, end up with people threatening every piece of their dignity, their right to goto church, and people begin to look at my girlfriend as a criminal as well, Just by being associated with me. Then when its not general society picking on them, it is Judges threatening to give custody of their children to the fathers, if the women continue to date me.
(IMAGINE HOW THE LACK OF RELATIONSHIPS & LOVE WOULD AFFECT THE REAL PREDATORS, and THE SAFETY OF SOCIETY)
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But all this I can almost understand, as society has been taught to fear “sex offenders”. Even I was taught that, and I do still fear the “Real” Criminals in society (as I myself have kids).
MY TRUE HURT & PUNISHMENT:
The only thing I know 100% I have done right in my life, is be a great father, as I have custody of my two daughters (which are more safe and loved with me, than anyone else in the world). But due to my registration, my daughters get picked on about how bad their dad is. As well as my daughters have to endure the comments & harassment people make towards me, while we are grocery shopping, etc. My oldest, ask me… Daddy why are people so mean?… I told her very calmly, BECAUSE THATS WHAT THEY ARE “TRAINED” TO DO.
All I want is to be a Positive Father Figure in my kids lives, They shouldn’t be punished (as how is the registry helping protect children, when the law helps victimizes children of people, with a cruel & unusual limitless punishment.
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ARE THESE YOUNG STUDENTS PREDATORS?
I am currently going to college full-time, with hopes of obtaining a reasonable paying job, and providing a great life for my children, so they wont have to struggle as hard as I have.
During my time in college, I came to realize threw conversations that a lot of these young adults (18-20) are still dating high school students 17 and younger. So is the registry, teaching these immature young adults anything? I can honestly say that I spend a lot of time talking these young guys out of messing up their lives. I talk to them about not having kids to young, i prevented one student from trying to kill themselves over women, most of all I do my best to help them understand why they shouldn’t be having underage sex, in hopes they will stop and not have their lives ruined at such as young age.
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Sad thing is last week I was arrested, for failure to register at the College security office (which I was unaware I had to do, since I was registered on my official registry with ISP, stating that I was going to that college) Id been going there for 4 years now. Here comes another felony, and the fear of letting my children & family down if I have to go to prison. All because I was uninformed of that political policy.
Are they trying to Prevent me from doing good?
Please, no matter what problems you have faced in life, if you get anything outta this post, please help young adults to learn from our mistakes, and not have to learn when they are facing the consequences.
I plan to spend my life helping people, learn from my mistakes.
I also am hindered IN LIFE because of a mistake I did make. I blame my lack of judgement of the affect of alcohol. I have not had or wish a drop since, even if I did drink my lesson of correction has been ingrained in my mind as wrong and a very painful experience for all concerned.
The laws as others stated are too broad, covering everybody of a sexual related crime, i do have a BEAUTIFUL daughter, wife, mom, aunt etc and know the reality of my actions.
I ask the legislators to take a more solution based action, not a wich hunt, in order to please the public . LEGISLATOR Stand up be counted as a realistic elected person not to waste money. REVAMP, REWRITE THESE LAWS TO STOP RECIDIVISM. DO NOT HURT THOSE IN REPAIR, WE ARE CITIZENS THAT VOTE
ALSO. Jonathan B, (member of F.A.I.R .org Maryland). thanks for free speech
How do you go about petitioning to be removed from the registry my husband was convicted in 1994 before the registry was in acted it was only after his release he was told he had to register for 25 years not for sexual battery or rape or indecent behavior but for touching over clothes. This is not what he did it’s what he plead to after years of fighting the system hours of interrelation and a public defender saying if they put the child on the stand and she cries you will go away for life. When he took the plea there was no mention of the registry it was not part of his agreement and when Meagan’s law went into effect it changed from 25 to lifetime. In Michigan where this took place and Kentucky he is labeled a sexually violent predator he missed his daughters graduation because he wasn’t allowed on school grounds. Other than the two times he was arrested for failure to register he has had no other criminal acts of any kind the first time I bailed him right out charges were dropped after I proved he registered. The second time he was picked up in another state while he was working as an over the road trucker the dog was impounded so was the rig after 8 days he was transferred home 2 months awaiting hearing the state couldn’t prove their case and he was released on ankle monitoring. He was released without prejudice but we lost his job our home and nearly everything else. That is it on his record other than minor traffic Tickets now we are in Indiana and he’s at the lowest level he’s ever been with no restrictions he can go to the schools and do things with our three youngest kids he hasn’t been able to do before. I would just like it to revert back to the 25 years he was given so we have a chance at life our kids could have friends I could have friends and not worry that my job will find out or the kids friends will and what would it cause them. We don’t do birthday parties unless the parents know the kids don’t have friends over I don’t trust anyone anymore we have lost our home many times the last time put us homeless for an entire summer another in a shelter for 31 days. There has to be an end point for someone I could see a multiple offender being on for life but not someone who served their time and probation only to be slapped with registering and have it changed without a trial or notification of the action. I want justice for my husband who was convicted on zero evidence there wasn’t a shred of evidence and after doing my research when they say this first happened he didn’t even know the child and wasn’t ever around her. It is also notable that the child’s grandfather is a multiple convicted offender with the child’s mother and countless other girls and was never looked at in this case.
It is nice and regrettable to know that I am no longer a voice in the wind. Most of the deprivations caused by the sex offender registry are ironically found in the Declaration Of Independence and clearly stated in the U.S. Constitution.