Estonia Gets It. When Will America Catch Up?
Here’s a refreshing change of pace: prosecutors are questioning whether a proposed registry measure in Estonia will actually protect children.
According to ERR News, Estonia’s prosecutors are skeptical that adding identification photos of people convicted of serious sexual offenses to criminal record checks will meaningfully improve child safety. More importantly, the Ministry of Justice’s own explanatory memo acknowledges that public sex offender registries have not been shown to reduce reoffending.
It’s not registry-reform advocates saying this. It’s the government’s own ministry, and it’s prosecutors questioning whether another registry measure will accomplish what it’s supposed to do.
So what do prosecutors recommend instead? More resources for mental health services, counseling, treatment, and professional training. They point out that Estonia lacks adequate treatment options and social programs for people convicted of sexual offenses, both in prison and in the community. They believe providing appropriate therapy and treatment could help reduce repeat offending.
Imagine that. Instead of simply adding another layer of public identification and stigma, they’re asking what might actually prevent another offense. Meanwhile, here in the United States, we continue to expand registries, add restrictions, draw exclusion zones, and pile on requirements, often with little meaningful consideration of whether each new measure improves public safety.
If prosecutors and government officials elsewhere can acknowledge the limitations of public registries and advocate for treatment and support as part of a meaningful prevention strategy, why are we still treating the expansion of registration and restrictions as the default answer to every public safety concern? The United States likes to think of itself as a world leader in innovation and criminal justice. Yet when it comes to evidence-based approaches to sex offense prevention, we seem remarkably reluctant to learn.
If you’ve read our stories on what other countries are doing, you’ll notice that they seem to get it and are asking the right questions. It’s time America caught up.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee (FAC)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Instead of “When will…”, how ’bout “IF America catches onto the idea, and decides it is worthy, when will they implement it?”
I believe America is well aware of what Estonia is taking grasp of but doesn’t want to do anything about it as others here have noted in their comments, sadly.
You are correct .. They don’t want to do anything about it because it would stop the ENORMOUS amount of money that is flowing thru legislators hands, and a lot of businesses would crumble.
Yet most legislators don’t earn a penny from the registry yet continue to support it anyway. Now why is that?
Plus we legally entrap men and we are protecting children. Go figure.
RULES TO LIVE BY: 1) Never Trust your health to those that profit from your illness you will stay sick. 2) NEVER Trust those that profit from full prisons and high crime to reduce your crime or empty your prisons..Schools out..Test next week.
E X A C T L Y …..
I travel far and wide to fight against the registries. I was in Florida recently campaigning against the registry in the ears and on the ground for select candidates. Once these districts are flipped by my efforts I hope we have gained ground. In 2028 I hope others will join the cause in holding officials accountable. Chaplain Rob
It’s all about the Benjamins here in the US. Cops like their shiny toys
This read should be sent to every lawmaker in Florida. It’s too bad that this approach won’t sell votes or line pockets.
It should be said to every lawmaker in the U.S.
AND, you are correct .. they want to sell the “fear factor” and line their pockets full of profits before telling the truth ..
It does make me wonder, though, how many politicians own or have considerable stock in all these companies that provide sex offender equipment or monitoring services ?
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Should be every law maker in American. The whole registry needs to be gone. If someone is a danger to society, then they should be on supervision until they are deemed not. This should not be limited to just sex offenses( one of the lowest recidivism rates). Supervision is the same as a registry but with more of a goal of rehabilitation. Just my opinion.
Not in Tennessee .. If you are on supervision, it is for life .. There is NO expectation of rehabilitation .. There is NO desire to have you rehabilitated .. Only to keep you, FOR LIFE, under constant supervision.