“What we are understanding is the more we look at people as one whole person, we kind of see the impact that flagging someone for the rest of their life could have, especially on their family members and how they are able to contribute to society,” Rimestad said.
The new working group must reflect diverse and marginalized voices, including the perspectives of victims and survivors, according to the language in the budget.
Members of the group will include:
- Experts on juvenile justice,
- Representatives from city and county prosecuting agencies,
- Members of statewide crime victim coalitions,
- Representatives from the state judicial branch,
- Representatives from the Minnesota Board of Public Defense,
- Private criminal defense attorneys,
- Staff from the Departments of Public Safety and Human Services and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission along with
- Representatives from state and local law enforcement agencies
I am on the registry as a level 1 offender. I was an 18 year old kid who’s life had already included a few stints in different juvenile facilities here in MN. And even jail a few times. I’m by NO means saying anything to minimize my role or level of criminality. However in 1992 I turned 18 in July and as mentioned dealt with a system that locked you up and pretended to care if you were helped to see the long term consequences of your actions. We all saw the immediate ones. However even president Biden mention the 18 year old kid who sadly took lives in the mass shooting not long ago. We’ve made changes as a nation and states that indicate we know teens yes even 18 and 19 year olds do NOT understand the potential ramifications our actions may have. So with this said I must once again say I absolutely played a part in where my life is today. And I place NO blame on my victim who was according to the statute I was charged and found guilty of was a known person (for a whole 15mins before she came over later in the night time) between 13 and 15 the statute states no force. It was a 3rd degree sexual assault crime. We made out and did not have intercourse. The incident occured in December of that year. In July when they had me locked up to question me in regards to the crime which because I was on juvenile parole till my 19th birthday they could have me held for any reason. Two investigators came and discussed it with me while being held in juvenile lock up. They asked questions after telling me it’s no big deal just a few questions to clear things up. After I described what happened they asked the one question that has been my bane of existence. Did your genitals touch I believe I said I don’t know yes maybe I think so. That statement under duress and scared because of the nature of things and being an adult legally and not understanding what difference an attorney would of made etc… I have since done my time been made to attend sex offender treatment subjected to lie detector tests made to register as a preditory offender. And you know what all of that is fine by me actually because I know there are plenty of people who would go on to do far worse if not monitored or scared straight or whatever. I’m far from against the registration stuff. HOWEVER the little dirty secret is a person who is returned to prison for ANY crime including but not limited to failing to register which let me tell you is VERY easy to do. Especially if you’re a drug addict who is stuck in their addiction and slowly destroying themselves and everything around you. You don’t want to go into a sheriff’s dept or law enforcement center are you nuts. Or if you end up homeless oh then it’s all bad because now that original 10 years of registration will now even if youre one day from finishing it start all over. Worse yet is for every failure to register you are tagged with an additional 5 years. So in my case the last time i was incarcerated in our prison system for something other than a failure to register was in 2000 after violating probation from crimes years in the past. I have been incarcerated for failure to register and have 4 of them giving me a grand total of 30 yrs to register from my last incarceration. I’m now 4 years into it for a crime I commented 30 years ago. And I’m not even upset that I was told by a police officer doing my registration a few years back that if my victim were to of brought the facts given them to them today they would not of gone for blood as he says they did because as he stated it was clear that my answers were cohersed. Not that some crime was not committed being 18 and her underage as such but it was clear that in his words I was not out preying on children. And to support that our prisons do an end of confinement review committee (ecrc) prior to being released to see if you’re likely to reoffend as a sexual predator. If so they will raise your level from a 1 to a 2 or 3 if need be. I’ve never shown any signs of potential to reoffend as such. Yet I am now 47 and looking at another 26 years of pure hell because when looking for work during a back ground check it will show failure to register and thus without any other info I’m automatically a child molester and denied. Even when looking to get my life back and do whatever it takes to get clean and work my program to have serenity and happiness in my life. I couldn’t just go to any treatment center I wanted I was very limited because as a person who must register only some facilities would even allow you to go through their program. And at the ones you can go to you are labeled a child molester because of the registration. And at my age I have to live down being called the creepy old guy or whatever. Now yes I take responsibility that I could of just got my life together and this would all be behind me. I wish addiction was that easy. Today I find it that easy only because I’ve obviously matured and I’ve built a support system and I work my program to have what life I can. But it’s sad that I would be working and literally be making six figures or close with my abilities experience and offers that I’ve lost out on only because of the extended registration. It’s a tragic thing that we still treat an 18 or 19 year old kids who are in the same schools as 13 14 15 16 and 17 year olds being 13 is a 7th grader and 19 is a late senior and across this country those grades are under the same roof and same events and same small towns the exact same as we would treat a 30 or 40 or even an 80 year old man who would have sex with a child in junior high or even high school. Where the teen agers are all class mates in some respect yet non of the others are even close and are the ones we should be spending these billions of dollars in all the costs in the US but it’s sexy to a person up for election to be tough on sex crimes because it’s not their future they are not destroying themselves but sure are taking the tires off your car and then asking you to drive safely from New York to California “good luck”
To Driving:
Not to make light of your situation, but you mention you had only 5 years to register. I have been on the registry since 1997 with NO hope of getting off because we here in Florida have lifetime registration. AND, No registry existed when my incident occurred, nor when arrested or sentenced.
If I had, had only 5 years of registry, I would have long since moved on with my life. Also not sure why so much inconsistency in registry laws. One state you can be removed, others you never can. Some have a path forward, others take 10 steps backwards. We even had dead people on our registry and people who came for a visit for a few days and cannot be removed, even though they do not live here.
Finally, I pray that you can move forward and get whatever help and support you need. Not sure your relationship with your family or with faith, but you need to surround yourself with positive people. Family, friends, mentors and pastors etc.
Oh no I’m about to be 48 and I started registering at 19. But yes the initial time given was 10 yrs. Here in MN you can be given life long for hanious enough crimes or multiple crimes of a predatory nature.. I think it’s crazy how different it is in each state it makes it next to impossible for some of us to enjoy life well after changing our lives because you can easily get caught up in another state and being the laws are either to confusing even for lawyers and judges at least here that it’s so ridiculous that how are we supposed to ever keep it clear thank you also
Meanwhile: Man found dead on Staten Island with ‘I touch little girls’ written on chest
https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-dead-staten-island-i-touch-little-girls-written-chest
A 30 yr. study on the ups and downs in this budget breakdown of the registry? How coy and forward authorities are today. So what is the study on internet sting operations vs real intent, or who know’s the thoughts and intent of another. In other words who know’s the right “Actions”. One action is done in real time setting and the other is done a primetime setting in this budget abuse. So who is budging understanding in this law or are we all still carnal by nature or who has a thorn in the flesh?
Even the physical aspects or a compromise or being caught up in many of these registry ruses and a bit callous on authorities part as they are just as guilty with much of this harlotry enticment. This study is very unsettling to the those involved and the public as a whole.Yes authorities are in themselves making a mockery out of justice in many ways and playing above commandments with their ill gotten gain in this deception. Even the buying and selling is a bit nerve shattering to budget in compromising positions. And yes Cheoekee the proof is in the pudding and the proof means to test.
Saddles
When I worked in law enforcement I believed in “Sting” operations. I guess somewhere along the way my eyes were opened to the fact, undercovers are “Creating” crimes that even though exist in the law books, shouldn’t exist if you magically create them in a trap.
I am going to get a bunch of fake 20 dollar bills and have the cops hide behind a wall. Then will ask people for a change for a 20. When they accept the 20 note, the police will move in and arrest them for counterfeiting.
Sounds illogical right? Well how far fetch is it to say LEOs are manufacturing crimes that would not take place without their enticements? Is that to say someone who likes looking at porn wouldn’t do it if not given a push?
Well let me give an example. 21 year old Michael goes online to an adult dating site where you have to agree to the terms that you are at least 18. So he knows going in, in the back of his mind he is not meeting underaged girls/boys (Depending on your preferences).
So Michael is in the room looking for and interesting profile when he gets a chat request. He accepts it because it is a nice looking girl. Her profile says she is 19. They chat for a bit and seem to hit it off. A while into the chat she says “Can you keep a secret”? She then proceeds to admit she is only 15.
I do not even need to finish the story because it really only has two outcomes. One of them is him signing off and saying “Oh Hell No”. But I remembered a story where someone did just that, and had no intention of further speaking to the person, but was arrested anyway. So you get arrested for something you didn’t intend to do nor ever did even in this instance. A fake crime that was created by a fake persona.
Oh no I’m about to be 48 and I started registering at 19. But yes the initial time given was 10 yrs. Here in MN you can be given life long for hanious enough crimes or multiple crimes of a predatory nature.. I think it’s crazy how different it is in each state it makes it next to impossible for some of us to enjoy life well after changing our lives because you can easily get caught up in another state and being the laws are either to confusing even for lawyers and judges at least here that it’s so ridiculous that how are we supposed to ever keep it clear thank you also
CherokeeJ…
Mine was the last sentence of your last paragraph!
“Fake crime that was created by a fake persona”
says “Ungendered minor” on my FDLE page.
That terminology only exists in my case if you do a Nexus/lexus search, apparently!
TRUE!
My brother is on the list and it has ruined his life – this life time registry for kissing a 16 yo is ridiculous- he is viewed worst than a murderer – he was NEVER convicted adjudication withheld – since 1993 – he can’t rent a place only in crime areas – the law has overstepped
When did he complete probation?
One thing that I learned, and this might apply to your brother: before 1995, in Florida, sex with a 16 yo wasn’t illegal if the 16 yo was not a virgin at the time (of previous chaste character).
Not to be a negative Nathan, but we have seen and heard this before. And years later we see NOTHING has been done to make things better for offenders. And often things somehow became More restrictive.
There is an old saying “The proof is in the pudding” and the pudding we get time and time again is spoiled and rotten to the core. As we all know, words must be followed with positive change and action. We can pass new legislation all we want but once opposers get their hands in the mix, the entire wording is changed.
To somewhat Quote Moses “Let our people go”!
I have written the head of the committee asking that the make up of the working group include at least one individual who is actually impacted by the registry and the laws and policies it generates. I further offered the help and resources of NARSOL to the group to answer questions, find studies, etc. as their work progressed. Hopefully she will answer me.
Sandy at NARSOL
Sandy
Thank you sandy. We need more people like you in the World.
Sandy..
.You Are Correct in Finding a Minnesotian Person Forced To Register to Make A Statement (Perhaps it is Done John Doe Style) …
Perhaps several Minnesotians Forced to Register agree to Make Statements of Facts!…, AND BACK IT UP with ‘Collateral Consequence’ Indicators, et. al.
Thank You Sandy for Your Steadfastness and Quick Response to All This Non-Sense!
Hope there also taking into consideration that by creating a sex offender registry they are also creating a class of people that could be discriminated against , just as has happened with gays. There have been several cases lately of violence against gays and talk of classifying them as “hate” crimes. If this can be classified as hate crimes so can discrimination against those registrants. There is no difference in society’s attempt to classify each group. If they are allowed to make such classifications then they have to be consistent and be willing to also charge hate acts equally against these social distinctions.
My fear is they will pass on those costs to registered people. Here in my county in Indiana I have to pay 50 at registration time. Volusia county didn’t charge but I think others did. But, I have said for a while now that if we could get them to look at it from a money spent versus return, it would have to change.
I hope they do charge more. I’ve been costing them a fortune for decades and I could use more incentives to keep it up and cost them more.
All people should cost law enforcement as much as possible and also de-fund. Vote for politicians that support that.
This is great!!! I hope that the other states soon follow suit!!! As a mother I don’t feel safer with the registry and I believe everyone deserves a second chance especially after serving their time in prison!!
Much respect for the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Oh, NOW they want to look at how much it costs taxpayers to track thousands of people. Not including all the economic impacts of thousands of capable people unable to work. I’ve always said the state has willful ignorance. Still haven’t seen a budget or cost analysis for the registry in Florida.
So funny that people think they care about wasting resources. They only care if it affects their incomes or ability to grow big government.
“The new working group must reflect diverse and marginalized voices…” I call BS on this because marginalized voices “must” include people forced to register.
Agreed Bob. Members really MUST include people on the registry along with their family members. To not include these people is not representing the whole picture. It sounds to me like a very one sided group of people they are putting together.