“If I was told about the lifetime sex offender registration, I would have fought the charges.”
Below is an excerpt from an article written by a woman who was charged with exposing someone to HIV and forced to register. She describes the stigma of being forced to register when her crime had nothing to do with touching a child.
“To me, and to most people I know, a sex offender means that someone sexually abused children (a pedophile). I was horrified! I had never ever touched a child!
I was never informed that if I pled guilty to the charges against me, I would be considered a sex offender for the remainder of my life! If I was told about the lifetime sex offender registration, I would have fought the charges.
Since I registered as a sex offender, I have to follow certain rules and requirements. I have to take classes for sex offenders. I have to pay a $150 fee once a year, which I cannot afford. I can’t be around any kids, and I can’t be within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare or anywhere children will be. When I see a child in a grocery store, I have to go in the opposite direction. I would love to go to a football game and watch my cousin play. He is going to be a senior this year, and I want to go to his graduation and see him walk across that stage.”
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Welcome to “our” (not chosen!) world?? 🤷🏻♂️
Unfortunately this is a story with many similarities.
Just medically retired out of army my wife cheating on me I turned to POF and that was the online police sting. Picture was sent one night after I passed out from drinking at a party. A friend not so much but was naive sent image to the undercover cop they deemed inappropriate material. I didnt even respond or know until a month later when I was arrested. I did get a lawyer and he did fight to get me a good deal. That’s after a psychosexual analysis which wasnt cheap and out of my pocket. Doctor deemed me normal and not a harmful member to society. Day in court my deal was 3 years probation no monitors no internet monitoring just standard felony probation. But one thing looking back on the day of this deal and I had to take it or go to court and face 5 years jail also making this decion within minutes before court appearance. I had kids and what was a life looking back. So I though 3 years could not he that hard. So I agreed and then went to in front of judge accepted deal. Had to go to one probation office to transfer to my home town and when I got to my home probation office the officer said under that statue your probation terms are under you got to go register as a sex offender at the sheriff’s office. My heart sunk but they find this non punitive and my lawyer later said you can fight it also can try for pardon. Well that’s all worked out in this state
Now lifetime registration and if I knew that day what I did now I would have fought. 26-27 years old never been in trouble scared not knowing what to do. I been in battle but nothing like this.
It’s kinda entrapment
My situation was very similar just on Craiglist. 30 years old, never been arrested and was only looking for adult companionship. The problem with the registry is that everyone is under the same label and the public can distinguish from a sex offender registration for urinate in public, or sting operation online to a sex offender registration from touching or having sex with a minor. Those 2 are completely different scenarios with complete difference sentence guidelines but Florida have them under the same umbrella and that is the big issue a lot of us have. I wish I had the money to fight all this unfairness
I’m in New Jersey sentenced out of Sussex NJ and no one, NO ONE MENTIONED THIS. I didn’t even learn about it till I was in prison. Plus if I’d know going to a therapy prison would then require quarterly reports rather than yearly I wouldn’t have gone. Get punished for trying to get help. What a stupid system.
Thanks to Florida Action Committee for their work.
When were you in ADTC? I was there 1993-1995 7R from Somerset County. You will know of me real soon. I was a tier 1 they put on the public registry. If you watch For Life I’m the one who gave him the note on Bissell. I’m gonna do my best to help with this we deal with.
Allan
I cried like a whipped child when “For life” ended. I would have liked to kept the show going. I turned into mush every episode. Once you get sent away, Jesus, Moses, and Cher could speak on your behalf and the department of corrections just laughs at you.
We know there are a lot of people locked up unlawfully and a lot of people not locked up that should be. I see on the news all the time offenders who have a rap sheet as thick as a manuscript, but they let them out due to “Overcrowding”. Just who are they making room for?
I can’t wait to see it. I’m not allowed to watch them because it could taint what is going down. I’ve been in contact with Isaac but only to ask one small question. I knew them both Isaac Wright and Nick Bissell. The 2 chapters I was allowed to read I laughed because I knew exactly that time. Well this new conquest I’m on here in Florida will help I hope. I’m not gonna settle for nothing less then changes. I hope these Expose Facto lawsuits do well also. What helps me is the time. NJ was the first state with Megans Law on 10/31/94 and Florida is trying to use the VCC or Biden crime bill JWA on 9/13/94 Now Congress passed the Amendment of Public Notification of registry on 5/17/96 all of which are after conviction and Tiering of Level 1 Not for Public notification. LCSO is pushing it off on FDLE.
Hey Allen.
A little back story. I originally did a year at Feds for money issues, while there daughter (ex-wife) charged me with sexual contact. Being a hard core drunk and not sure what I’d done ( or not) and since I was already in custody, I took a plea for 5 ( hard). Went to Southwoods. 95-2000. Get out and I’m framed by roommate ( long story) plea deal for 3 but asked for rehab this time. ADTC 2001-2003. I haven’t kept in contact with anyone, I fought hard to make a life. ( actually went to a private seminary and got ordained and worked in Newark) I’m retired and somewhat comfortable. I lived in Newark for 15years moved to Western NJ and still doing quartet reports, like it originally said; which I had no knowledge of and because I plead on that second bull crap charge, I’ve got two charges that no one told me would make me ineligible to ever get off MEGAN.
Thank you
Vince
BTW. Not familiar with For Life.
I was ADTC-2161 with a 3 also. Was T. Bishop still there? I was there when Megans Law was started on 10/31/94 an released in Feb the following year. For Life was about a guy that the Somerset County Prosecutor framed. It was just 2 seasons I hear 50 cent is in it. I have a whole lot more to add on Bissell. It’s a wild story as they say he fled house arrest after being found guilty on 33 federal charges. Goes from Skillman, NJ to Laughlin, NV with a Nationwide APB and BOL gets caught with a hooker in the room ( They don’t tell you that ) After 10 minutes he blows his brains out.
Yeah Bishop was still there. We had a group of @6 did weights every day with him. And another Navy guy can’t remember his name. We both served around the same time. Funny when I was in trial I was denied bail because they said I served a bunch of years overseas and knew how to operate outside the US. Thereby a flight risk. Ain’t that a thank you for your service.
Ah, yes. A story as old as… well, the registry. This would be much less of a problem if the registry were treated as the punishment that it is, and therefore every rule/law clearly outlined as part of a plea, and NOT get “enhanced” every year with more and more harmful rules.
Author does NOT say the registry is ineffective or should be abolished, only that she shouldn’t be on it.
I wish her luck in her HIV legal reform efforts. Once she sees the light re the registry, we will be here to work with her as an ally.
@jacob. I was thinking the same thing. She does not say the registry is bad, just that she is on it. And if she is actively working to make changes, then she would know, it does not work for anyone. But then again it is only one article of her thoughts. Maybe, just maybe she does know it doesn’t work for anyone.
My sympathies, and yet welcome to world most of us registrants have to navigate. I was caught in an entrapment sting. Never hurt a child. No prior criminal history. Yet blacklisted for life. Through endurance we conquer. I will not let the registry define me.