A group of County Court judges are urging the state’s law reform body to give them more discretion over who is placed on the sex offenders register.
In a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission, the County Court of Victoria said judges should have more power to decide whether a convicted sex offender is placed on the register. Under current laws, adults convicted of sexual offences are automatically listed for a minimum of eight years.
“The problem is, like all these mandatory provisions, whether it’s sentencing or registration, it’s using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”
Why is it every country in the world is smart enough to figure that out but this one. When the public finally figures this out there going to kick these scum politicians to the curb like dog poop on your boots.
David M
Many of us, like myself, will be long dead and buried before that happens. I really do not expect to get off the registry in my lifetime. I have been on it since 1997 and was arrested 30 years ago. I am in my 60s now and a grandfather in poor health.
Pretty sad that a 60s something man has to live with his elderly parents. My Dad is in his late 80s.
Registry in Florida has been around for 24 years nows. They keep addding more and more harsher sanctions against us. The old saying of “Things will get worse before they get better” is ringing true. Just hope I do not have to wait until I am in a nursing home before that happens. Oh wait, we are not allowed in nursing homes. Homeless camp, here I come.
CherokeeJack
I understand your negative attitude. You have ample reason for it ,but I m not giving up hope yet. I’ve been on it since 1996 . I could apply to be removed toward the end of this year . 25. Years. But that’s not good enough for me . I was falsely charged in the first place and I m not quitting till I get completely cleared. I’m in my 70s but my health is very good.
One thing that is going to help is ,the more rich and powerful people the put on the registry and treat overly harsh ,the more money there going to dump into changing things. And the more attention will be drawn to looking at things in a rational way. Yes it will be slow but it can happen.
Look how long it has taken to draw attention to the injustices of black peoples, and women’s rights. But there finally starting to come around. Even though some terrible things have had to happen to get people to see just how bad it is.
The wheels are turning for change just give it all the momentum we can. Like you said some states will never change . It must be pushed on a national level . When other countries start pointing the finger at this country , that has a big impact on forcing politicians to take a second look. They don’t like being shamed in to looking like a fool to the world. Which is what will happen if they don’t start paying attention to what their doing.
DavidM
I am not saying individually we cannot get off. Judges are more likely to let one or two people off occasionally which raises no big deal. When an entire registry is struck down, people have an aneurysm.
The second issue is, when it is your/our/my time, not everyone has $20,000 to hire the best attorney to do this. Hire an attorney who does not know what they are doing and you just f-ed your shot.
I do not have the money but when I am about a year away, I will start saving money by becoming a Chippendale dancer. People will pay me to stop embarassing myself LOL
CherokeeJack
Yeh , know what you’re saying. Spending money to defend yourself is a big gamble. Even if you get off the registry they change the laws and your right back on it again. Or like me get removed in one state then move to another and there laws are different and your right back on it again.
@DavidM
Because Americans are too justice and vengeance obsessed to see their wrongdoing. It’s all organized hate wrapped in the arrogance of instant gratification.
Here’s a hint: A certain party that wants to ban “vaccine passports” and a wedge issue is the SAME party that is profiting politically from us being vilified and marginalized.
Which goes back to the fact, if there was such discretion here, maybe many of us wouldn’t have been placed on it. For me personally, there was NO registry in place at my sentencing, but was put on years later retroactively.
I could have used that in negotiating a plea. That was stolen from me and untold 1000s of us.
Eight years!! I’d be off three times by now
Also note that the last line of the article says, “[t]he register is not available to members of the public.” Yet another way the American system is much more oppressive than in the civilized nations.
Veritas.