Changes needed in sex offender registry rules
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a rare spate of high-profile child abductions and murders, mostly sexual in nature, terrified America. With constant media coverage, parents across the country were easily led to believe that their children could be in imminent danger. As demands from the public, as well as a few prominent parents of missing or murdered children escalated, legislatures responded, and the sex offender registry was born.
This primal need to protect our children from any possible harm resonates in us all. Human logic supports instincts – if we identify and track those who have committed these crimes, we can better protect those we love. False information surrounding the risk of re-offense by the perpetrators only increased the willingness to do anything to reduce that risk.
That was 30-plus years ago, and in those years the sex offender registration system has grown to the point that children as young as 9 can be registered, and teenagers having consensual sex and sexting can be registered. The rules, restrictions, and background checks often dictated by the registry can be onerous and destroy any rehabilitation initiatives and lifetime registration with no path off the registry destroys all hope for a better tomorrow.
Something else has happened in those 30 years. We now have a massive body of evidence showing that every premise upon which registration was built is false. It does not reduce sexual recidivism, neither violent nor nonviolent. It does not reduce first-time sex crimes. Furthermore, the purported high rate of re-offense is non-existent.
Finally, the American Law Institute is calling for changes. The institute is an independent organization of thousands of lawyers, judges, and scholars who published The Model Penal Code in 1962 to encourage the states to standardize their criminal codes. Even though it is not legally binding, it proved to be influential as a majority of states adopted it, either in part or in whole. Their current revision to the sex offender codes has taken nearly a decade to complete and is intended to guide the states in updating their laws based on the empirical knowledge we have gained since 1962.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The current sex offender laws are in dire need of reform to address their fairness and effectiveness. It is deeply unfortunate that individuals who made a mistake in their past, continue to suffer lifelong consequences. The internet’s potential for causing harm is evident, and it is crucial to address the underlying issues and provide mental health treatment for sex offenders. Instead of subjecting them to lifelong labeling, a more compassionate approach would be to implement a tier system, as you suggested, which would differentiate between various levels of offenses and tailor punishments accordingly. It is important to recognize that the majority of individuals on the sex offender list are one-time offenders who are unlikely to reoffend. Moreover, the disparities in how the law is applied to individuals with wealth and influence highlight the urgent need for a more just and equitable system. The cases of Jeffrey Epstein and others serve as stark reminders of the flaws in our current laws. Jaden Kitna wouldve been on the registry had multiple photos and doesn’t not have to register due to having a good lawyer , money and famous father . It is imperative that we enact changes that promote fairness and protect the well-being of all individuals involved.
My husband was in the military 10 years ago was 20 had one photo and has to register for lifetime .
This laws need to be changed a tier system or mental health treatment would make a difference for individuals . Men are treated far worse than women. If you don’t have power money or being a politician you get away with so much crime .
Everyone on the registry is not the same . Everyone’s crime is different . It needs to be changed
Respectfully disagree that sex crime law needs to be reformed. There’s absolutely no way to modify or amend them to make them “effective” regarding their supposed purpose. Any changes or amendments only make them worse for all – registrants and society as a whole.
The registry needs to be abolished. Period.
I was arrested for Internet Solicitation of a minor in 2001. The judge waived all restrictions but 3 years probation. No Blood, No Monitor, Stayed in my home. Adjudication of Guilt withheld.
But the FL registration Law says because I lead no contest, I have to register, and this blows my mind, for Life.
I know live in Montana, and Because Florida requires registration, Montana does.
I could try to overthrow the Government and I wouldn’t be punished this bad.
Saw this on ACSOL website https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2023/01/26/desantis-proposes-death-penalty-certain-sex-crimes-increased-punishment-fentanyl/
Look, we all want to stamp out child rape, but this proposal will have unintended consequences.
Important link from Eugene V Debs that also gives you a hint on DeSantis’ views on how lesser sex crimes should be treated. I won’t be surprised if the governor declares that the registry is good BECAUSE it’s punitive.
WoW Will Allen did I heard an AMEN from you. Sure change is needed plus Action and some better guidelines as well. Now don’t knock those religious people or those ones with some Christian background. Their are principles to everything in life.
Hey Government is in many ways digging their own grave. You have this compromise of a plea deal, you have this due process or the lack of due process and you have the trespassing against another. So whats more abusive than trespassing against others and to top it all off you have the shell or con game.
Protecting and serving does not mean setting up someone in these blind shell game via some internet ordeal. Authorities are guilty. Remember we wrestle not with flesh and blood.
Not sure where else to post this, but here ya go. Florida police are now using K9s to search for electronic storage devices in child porn investigations.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/01/20/from-mans-best-friend-to-childs-biggest-protector/
Maybe I can train my dog to show me where I left my phone.
“Well the dog you say. Your honor the dog did it.” He sniffed out my cell phone but their was no porn on it. Very interestting… So who is being realistic or optimistic in this porn game with a sex enticement via the internet. So should we all beware of these vain deceits or spoiled thru this philosophy. God is a God of judgement man uses compromise in many vain ways. Read Jer 22:3 and yes he Executes judgement and right judgement.
So many should get their butts up to Tallahassee and address this issue and every other state in America to rid a lot of this registry type abuse out. So is the sex offender still in bondage even after he’s paid his dues’ to society? If people don’t take Action than whats this card game all about a dog that can sniff out peanut brittle.
https://reason.com/2023/01/19/a-federal-judge-says-the-dojs-sex-offender-registration-rules-violate-due-process-by-requiring-the-impossible/ Federal judge issued a partial injunction for Sonora in California for people who’s no longer on the registry