RSOL Board of Directors: public notification, harsher laws not the answer
On December 1, 2015, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in Massachusetts held a hearing on a number of proposed sex offender bills. Every proposal is one that will increase the difficulty of registrants to live peacefully with their families in the community. None of the proposals give any indication of following facts, evidence, or research.
Paul Shannon, one of RSOL’s founders and a current co-chair, spoke to the committee and laid these issues before them. (Paul’s testimony 12-01-15) We wait to see if his appeal to logic, reason, and evidence will bear any fruit as they further debate and ultimately pass legislation.
Sandy Rozek, RSOL’s communications director, this week responded to a situation in a small town in Texas that is moving toward placing signs in the yards or on the homes of registrants, signs that identify them as registered sex offenders. After several articles about the ordinance being passed in the township of Gonzales, the publisher of the Gonzales Inquirer wrote an editorial whose headline proclaimed that signs weren’t the answer but whose text raised more questions than answers as to what the headline really meant.
Sandy’s rebuttal editorial was graciously printed, with the position of RSOL made clear: nothing about public notification, be it signs or the registry, benefits public safety or addresses the problem of child sexual abuse.
The appeal to evidence based legislation and ordinances must continue; it must strengthen; it must prevail.
If they don’t want us in communities then why do they make it impossible to move outside the country and begin our new lives?
I’m so tired of discrimination for an offense from when I was 18. I’m 36 now and live with my parents because I can’t get a job where i live.
I spend all time helping women leave abusive situations in other countries. I fight against the label put upon my by empowering them to come forward. I do it voluntarily because I can’t be hired by anyone.
I’m sick and tired of being FORCED to be a leach of society.
I know what you mean. I was 18 when I was charged with attempt to commit sexual exploitation of a minor for having pictures of my x on my phone long story short she got mad at me for leaving her I’m not trying to justify what happend but I’m 26 now I’m homeless can’t hold a job down cause I’m labeled a child molester they need to reform these laws there making in my opinion they won’t cause there politicians and there making millions sorry for bothering you just wanted you to know your not the only one having a hard time you can’t give up
I totally understand your situation, I am 59 yrs. old, I have been on the California registered sex offender list for 30 years. I can’t get removed from the Web site. I have never re-offended, I have been back to prison , but not for any sex crimes, and I am not labeled as high risk, they say my charges keep me on the list. When do we deserve a break?
Do we have a Nazi law in USA? See this documentary film on the S.O.R-you be the judge http://www.evillaw.tk
I was convicted of attempting to commit sexual exploitation of a minor when I was 18. I had pictures of my x girl friend on my cell phone. Long story short, she sent them to me because she was mad at me for leaving her because I turned 18. I’m 26. Now I’m homeless, can’t hold a job. When I do find a job someone gets me fired. I’m labeled a child molester everywhere I go. They need to make laws where we don’t have to be pushed out of our homes and jobs and hated by everybody. How can sex offenders be beneficial to society when we’re forced to live like animals?
Amen same here bro
i was 22 when I was charged. I am not denying that I did anything wrong, because I know I did. I was charged with attempted CSC 4th Degree. When we are young we are still basically kids even though the law says 18 means we are adults. That does not mean are brains are fully developed. That does not mean our hormones have settled down. Young mean are naturally irresponsible and have out of control hormones. Sure we should be punished when we make critical mistakes, but to be punished for years to come and not allowed to move past that mistake is just wrong and oppressive. I am trying to raise awareness on how the General public considers the registry to be a form of punishment even though lawmakers claim it is not. If you can vote in this poll It would really help.
http://www.debate.org/polls/are-sex-offenders-being-punished-by-being-on-the-sex-offender-registry
It’s a fact that the frontal lobes in a human being don’t fully develop until one’s early 20’s. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for problem solving, judgment and sexual behavior. I’ve always thought putting juveniles on the registry is like killing a fly with the atom bomb. There’s a reason the age of consent is 18, as it should be. Why don’t we also feel that way it comes to treating kids like adults as far as the sex offender registry is concerned? I’m not saying there shouldn’t be any consequences, but the registry isn’t even supposed to be a “punishment” in the first place, yet we all know it is.
I totally agree with you with your comments. I too was convicted of a sex crime back in 08 when I was 26. Yes I was stupid and should have never did what I did but it happened and now I just want to move on. There are people in the legislature even here in Ohio that has it out for sex offenders. The issue I have is those who get caught in their time and get out and try to move on with their lives they can’t because we continue to have people always messing with us. I know there are other states a heck of a lot worse than here that if I would have been convicted in 2007 out of head to register once a year for 10 years. I continue to pray to God each and every day that these laws will be change sometime very soon.
The Attorney General in PA had had many stings while in office. Now the AG is being charged and investigated herself for perjury and other crimes and supposedly judges, government workers and her own office workers are involved in “Porngate” during work hours, however no one has been penalized as harshly as those she arrested and had convicted in these stings. No one had to “register” or serve jail time. Presently there is a judge on trial and one that left with a full pension. Read about it on Pennlive.com. Her stings, while a good thing, were entrapment. These were adult sites and many were first offenders. The State Board labeled my friend as a predator but not a “violent predator” but the judge gave him the max years and tier in order to be labeled as one. We have realized that murderers has more rights than sex offenders. While we thank God all was stopped in time, and we don’t condone what he did, the sentence is too severe and the registration will be the ultimate punishment when he gets out. There is nothing to live for it seems because the shame is unbearable. If the government continues this where are they to live and work? Who will marry them? Why cant their children visit? Where will they attend a house of worship? Where can they vacation? Then the government should provide welfare and monetary provisions and a new planet for them to live on!!! Also the prison guards and workers are bias and they also have a wait list for the programs. If they are so called predators and need professional help why does it take years to get in the class. We are willing to go before the senate but don’t know how and must be prepared. The prison administration turned down a request for his son to visit unless it was via the glass enclosure, yet anyone can visit him in the general family visiting room in which there are children. I don’t get their logic. All their rights are just down the drain. If you think about it, drug dealers also exploit children because they provide drugs to them which have even killed or maimed children and youth. I would also like to know if a murderer or drug dealer lives by me! What kind of reform are they providing if the punishment is evil itself. Who wants to even live with all these restrictions and scarlet letter on their lives forever? Until this happens to a loved one or friend will you understand the severity of these harsh and cruel rules!
Jewel,
How are stings “good things”? Here we have a “crime” with NO victim, created by the cops, sensationalized by the media (to create even more fear and harsher laws), that does nothing to protect children.
I agree with nearly everything else you stated. Sex offenders have less rights than murderers. The label “Sex Offender” covers such a broad range of offenses- from public urination and other victimless crimes to raping babies. Even a tier 1 offender, in most states, will be on the public registry for a LONG time, subject to housing restrictions, forced to attend “treatment” (where at anytime an offender can be sent to prison or civilly committed for something as stupid as failing a polygraph…or maybe just not saying the “right” thing) plus whatever else the system dictates they may or may not do.
Most people have NO idea how illogical and cruel the sex offender laws are until they experience it first-hand. And the laws just keep getting crazier. In spite of all evidence showing that the public registry and residency restrictions do nothing to protect children politicians continue to impose harsher and more punishing laws. Sex stings, and the media hype that surrounds them, just promote more fear and ignorance.
Everything else you said i totally feel…i just don’t agree that stings are “good things”.
How greatly put. This was the truth and I’m so glad to hear it god bless you for this we need you in pa reform
I think it is time to pursue a law that makes it illegal for the federal government to use tax dollars to leverage states to do their bidding. This is ridiculous. States are folding to government pressure under the threat of reduced funding to special interests. The glaring conflict of interest is unbelievable. I am outraged that the very politicians that choose to label and judge us, practice at such an immoral and unethical level. How can this happen in America? I welcome the next American revolution. To hell with these liberal jack wads!!!!
WHAT ABOUT THE GUYS AND GALS WHO ARE FALSLY ACCUSED AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THINK OF HOW LIVES GET RUINED BECAUSE OF A VINDICTIVE STEPDAUGHTER, DAUGHTER, EX, OR A JILTED GIRLFRIEND. THESE MORONIC THINKING LAWMAKERS HAVE GONE OVERBOARD WITH THEIR NON-RATIONAL THINKING. SEX OFFENDERS WANT TO LIVE NORMAL LIVES LIKE THE REST OF SOCIETY. SURE, THERE ARE THOSE CREEPS WHO ARE PREDATORS AND NEED TO BE TRACKED, BUT WE ARE ALL PUT IN THAT SAME SPOTLIGHT. THE MONEY SPENT ON MAKING LIVES PURE HELL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED, WOULD BE BEST USED TO WATCH THOSE MOST LIKELY TO RE-OFFEND, NOT EVERYONE. MYSELF, WELL YOU’LL HEAR IT A MILLION TIMES FROM THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM, ” I’M INNOCENT”. AND THERE A LOT OF US WHO ARE WHICH MAKES IT EVEN ROUGHER ON OUR PSYCHE. I LOST THE LOVE OF MY LIFE BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM HER FAMILY WHO ARE NARROW MINDED WITH TUNNEL VISION JUST LIKE THE ASSHOLES WHO COME UP WITH MORE AND MORE WAYS TO KEEP ON RUINING LIVES.
I moved here to Florida from Michigan to be with an old high school flame and unfortunately things didn’t work out for us. I jumped from the frying pan and into the fire as the saying goes. The restrictions in Florida are terrible compared to Michigan, especially in the county I moved to. Now that this relationship is over, Michigan will be my home and I will never come back to this discriminatory state again….not even to visit. I cant leave here fast enough. I was willing to put up with whatever they threw at me, but I can honestly say that I’m glad her and I are through so I can get the hell out of this sad state of Florida. What the hell was I thinking !! If you are thinking about moving to Florida, DON’T !!
Did one ever wonder why bee’s sting? To paralyze their victim. I am afraid we all are paralyzed to the system once one gets involved in all this. With the bee sting the paralyze venom goes away over time, but we are not bee’s.
From a human stand point we are no more than that paralyzed animal. That is one thing that differs us from the bee. We have a developed brain to think and understand, we all just have to learn to use it in the correct way.
When the bee stings that puts that other insect into bondage. Yes we are all in bondage with this and lifetime slaves to be manipulated anyway the big guy want to play it.. Shocking isn’t it but it is what it is until it is what it shouldn’t be.
I wonder, what if all the Sex Offenders get together for a class action suit against the government for imposing such harsh punishment for life. Why are they the only ones with a lifetime registration list in which are you marked for life? Why not one for other crimes? Why not for murderers and drug offenders? There are those who have murdered children and sell drugs to minors and teens, which do lead to death also. If you do the time and get rehabilitated what are you supposed to do after you pay your dues to society? As bizarre as I sound, why does the government provide an Island or place for sex offenders to live in peace and also work with their families? How about the same free government of the USA, who is shunning and crucifying them, donate land or an empty jail where they can live and cultivate the land and progress. Where are they supposed move and work at? In the moon? The lawmakers need to reform their minds and hearts and souls!!!