Lawyer Meaghan Ybos to be President of Women Against Registry
The great Meaghan Ybos is set to take over as President of Women Against Registry (WAR). As WAR’s Past President Vicki Henry writes, “Meaghan is a surprising ally: a prominent and outspoken survivor of rape who is dedicated to abolishing the registry, ending systems of perpetual punishment, repealing pre-crime preventative detention laws, and shuttering shadow prisons.
Vicki further writes, “in 2003 at the age of sixteen, Meaghan was raped in Memphis. She was revictimized by the state when law enforcement did not investigate the case or test her rape kit for more than nine years. Meaghan strategically used the (all-too-common) mishandling of her rape case to raise awareness about needed policy changes. In 2015, Meaghan and a group of lawyers and community organizers formed People for the Enforcement of Rape Laws (PERL), which advocates for criminal justice reform and for several years provided the community’s only peer support for people who experienced sexual violence. She is also a contributing writer at The Appeal, part of the Harvard University School of Law’s Fair Punishment Project. Meaghan holds a BA in English from Rhodes College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi.
Vicki “will continue on as a senior strategic advisor for the next six months to help Meaghan stand up her new Board — after which I intend to take a sabbatical to focus on my family and pivot my work to the dire need for prison and sentencing reform. WAR will be announcing new additions to its Board over the coming months as Meghan builds her team to create meaningful systemic change.
“Over the past dozen years, I’ve met thousands of people from all over the country from every walk of life and level of income who have been baptized by fire into this movement — people who share my commitment to ending the sex offense legal regime. I’m excited about this new chapter in my life and can’t wait to see where this new, youthful leadership will take us in the fight for the rights of our families to live free from the stigma of the registry.”
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What an angle! Meaghan Ybos for US president.
I disagree wholeheartedly as a male who was Victimized 3 times as a kid by 3 different adults. I say the registry is a needed service to KEEP these people from revictizing others. The needs of the Safety of the Community are more Dire than the RIGHTS of someone who DESTROYED the LIFE of another by what they have done. We fail TO realize that these persons more than likely have a History of Sexual Predatorism throughout their whole lives and just now getting caught. These people for lack of A better word can’t be fixed and need to be monitored continuously until they die off. I can tell you there’s a growing number of people who are ready to take the law into their own hands once these predators are caught in our neighborhoods USA. I don’t understand for the life of me what would make someone who has been Sexually Violated themselves be interested in ridding this Sexual Predator Registry. Just suppose they got rid of it and she got Victimized again by someone living in her neighborhood, that perhaps had she known she could’ve been more cautious of where he lives and works. Hmmmmm.
I SUPPORT KEEPING THE REGISTRY AT ALL COST!
D A Dorset
Glad you expressed your concerns. Nobody deserves to be a victim. But you have been gravely misled with false information. The biggest lie is “ those on the registry have committed many other offenses, just not been caught” . No proof, no evidence , no anything but BS period! Sure that is true for a few, but not the other 99% on the registry. That’s what you are failing to understand. That is why the registry is such a failure. It makes no efforts to distinguish those that are a threat and those that just made a mistake or even those falsely convicted. Of which my attorney told me make up 20% of those convictions.
Where do you think it’s right to punish innocent people for life. If that’s what you call justice than I’ll pray for you.
Now I do believe that not everyone deserves to be on the list, I do agree with that.
Hypothetically: What if a person reoffends after being caught 1 time, then what do we say then?
[Moderated].
Thanks Sen Book.
@ Mr. D.A Dorsett
In Florida we are divided up by sex offender or sexual predator. Usually those sentenced as a predator are those who had numerous victims, or those who completed their sentences then did the same thing or worse again so they then become categorized as a predator.
As someone who is not listed as a predator, I have just a state statue on my drivers license that means I have had a sex offense in my past. For those who got placed as a predator, they actually have that word written on their licenses.
Another thing is, currently Florida registration is for life no matter how behaved you are. Other states when you do not reoffend after a certain amount of time, you can be removed from the registry. Here in Florida it is a life sentence on the registry. If I was passing by a school and my car broke down and I pulled into school property, I could be arrested just for being present on school property no matter what excuse even if legitimate. You could go back to prison for basically have a car break down. Any offender not on the registry would not meet that same criteria.
Be aware that there is no escape from the federal SORNA requirements to register, regardless of state or current status. Please correct me if I am wrong, but i don’t believe I am.
@CW
Also there are people all the time come in here that are no longer on the registry and they did not have to go back on through federal. They just like to check in on everybody from the old gang and to be honest, if I get removed, I would still come in here and support everyone getting removed.
@CW
I went back into my saved emails from a month ago from the expert registry attorney and I was correct that I had asked him about having to go on SORNA registry if I got removed.
Here is his reply which was #1 of 20 questions I pestered him with and he answered every single one without hesitation.
No you would not have to go back on
Attorney Ron M. Kleiner South Florida
Thanks for your opinion. Troll much? According to what you say you beleive here. I’ll give you some more to Kool-Aid to drink. The earth is flat and ailens are actually in control of the whitehouse.
Along the lines of your statements this should be easily beleived.
@ Throwing
I seem to be having a civil conversation with Mr. Dorsett and some of the points I made he agrees with. We are not going to win people over by attacking them.
Yep. Your correct. I’ve been on the registry my entire adult life. With no chance of removal in. Fl, If I thought for one second he was here to learn something? I’d agree with you. But he’s not here for that. He is clearly trolling the site. But feel free to talk all you want. I however an becoming a little tires of holding my opionon anymore. It’s been 33 years. I was a teenager at the time of the single offence. I no longer feel the need to appease people’s stupidity. Just My Opinion.
I was once like you. But I’m tired now, and I’m getting sick of peoples nonsence. So if they want to tell me how this registry is useful and great. I shall enlightening them on how I feel it’s absolutely insane as A flat earth or aliens.
Amen!!!!
@ Throwing
We have a lot in common, Mine was a Florida case as well and 33 years ago also. The judge I had was so mean my lawyer asked to be excused and vomited in the trash cans in the hall. After doing that, I knew my goose was cooked. She (The judge) would not let either of us get two words in, rather she ranted on me telling me if it were up to her I would be sent straight to Hell.
I went back on an appeal 4 times and got shot down each time. Finally a new circuit court judge was appointed and he canceled the remaining sentence even though the same prosecutor was present and she was not having it, but it was not up to her.
When both of us were arrested and went to court to face a judge, there was no talk of any registry so how is it fair we did not get to use that to get a lower sentence? Those who came after us could at least tell the judge”Hey I am already facing a life sentence on the registry so go easy on me.” We were short changed and lied to.
I am eligible to be removed from registry but am afraid because I know of 3 people who got off and a law caused them to go right back on.
Throwing in the Towel:
You’re not alone in being sick and tired of the registry. We are getting a lot of this feedback especially from people who have been on the registry for years. Your point supports the point that I was trying to make in my other comments.
The entire registry must be abolished. If they want to place a person on the registry they must first prove that it is necessary in a fair court hearing. If they want to make this information public, they must first prove that this is necessary in a fair court hearing.
We all make mistakes. Putting people on the registry simply because they showed poor judgment one time in the past is counter productive. Poor judgment is a part of adolescence and carries on into their 20’s. By the time that most people reach their mid to late 20’s, their brain has become fully developed and they show better judgment. To keep beating a person over the head because of something stupid they did in their teens or 20’s is absolutely asinine.
@Vocal
Although I am against the registry, it is especially disturbing that some were put on while it was active but many of us were put on retroactively. Those who knew there was a registry when they got sentenced had a chance to at least try to use that at trial as leverage.
Me and many others had already been to court, got sentenced and were being released from prison by time the registry was started in Florida. I/we thought we were free but instead we got an unexpected new life sentence on the registry.
I want to inform you. The registration might have been around at the time of my situation that happened. The lady lied about her age to me. I never have been arrested or involved with law enforcement in my life time. After my situation that happened. Thus was the first time I ever heard about the registration. I never new about it. I didn’t Is follow the news that much. This was all new to me. And it sucks.
Vocal
I too have had my comments thrown out because too long. So I’ll try to cut it.
My offense was before the registry was started but they kept postponing the court date to be able to put me on the registry. Which at the time didn’t know anything about till later.
My charges were for lewd and lascivious. I was supposedly seen stepping out of my bathroom naked . The kids were unknowingly to me messing around in a vacant house next to mine. I saw one look my direction as they were running towards the street.
As I thought it’s possible they did see me I agreed to a plea deal to a misdemeanor charge.no jail time $75.00 fine.Later finding out I was to be put on a registry for 10 years. Then I was removed in 2008. That was Kansas. I now live in Missouri . They say it’s a felony and because minors were involved lifelong registry.
Were they victims? I don’t know. If they were can anyone explain that to me.
Now you how Black Males feel who haven’t done anything but get stopped for BS sakes, all our lives. I feel that not everyone needs to be placed on the registry based on a 1-time issue like yours, if it was indeed truthful.
Mr D A Dorsett
I know you are correct about black males being targeted. But they are not the only ones. If someone in law enforcement thinks they can boost their career, you are toast. Facts don’t matter, laws don’t matter, rights don’t matter.
I promise what I said is true. If you can find attorney that can get it back in court I’ll gladly put my money where my mouth is .
@D A Dorsett
Thank you for your input, I just hope and pray no one you know, love or cares about gets put on the registry. It is not just the person arrested who has to live through this but also our families who have feces thrown at them, have their windows shot out just missing my Mom’s head, tires slashed and more.
Hope you can have some peace and solace. Not all of us are monsters and not all had an accuser that was underage. And a few had an ex who wanted revenge for something and used the accusations to get that.
Hmmm that’s not good but then again, I do not know what happened in your case for me see if you deserved all that. People are upset in 2023 about so many kids that go missing and are raped and killed that they no longer care anymore other than for Vengeance. Not all people should be placed on the Registry once they can prove that this was a 1-time issue or you have childhood sexual assaults as well that are sealed by the courts.
@ Mr. D.A Dorsett
Thanks for at least having an open mind in certain cases. None of us on it, want to be on it, especially since in some cases like mind, it was never mentioned when I got sentenced. Once I got out of prison to rebuild my life, BAM! The registry came calling. I can say on some aspects, it is worse than my probation that I did.
Mr Dorsett, You are blind to the purpose of this forum by the horrors you experienced as a child.
@sarah
My crime happened over 33 years ago. Never had an arrest before or since. I like the fact Mr. Dorsett came here. But showing that (Some of us) can be civil and share our own pain might just change someone’s mind. Being mean to them is not the way to turn enemies into allies. Even if someone never come around, it just takes one to listen and at least think we are all monsters hiding behind a tree trying to snatch children.
I once thought like you and actually chewed FAC for allowing people to come in here and say these things about us. But now I understand, they are hurting. Yes there are groups who want to kill us but there are also people who just want some answers.
I am a registered sexual predator My case goes back 1998 I was 20 years old when I made a mistake no I wasn’t lurking chasing me behind anyone peeking through windows I just made a mistake, and I feel sorry for it I only have one victim over the age 18 a knife was mentioned That’s why I was classified as a sexual predator one mistake so no Mr Cherokee everyone don’t have multiple victim to be the predator The department of law enforcement put it on me after sentencing
@ light
I was not told there would be a registry when I was sentenced and did not know until other inmates told me once they saw I was getting out soon. (Crazy how much inmates can find out about people)
I remember in 1997 when I was put on it was a one time thing unless you had updates or changes. Then I had to start going in person twice a year and they for no reason I was moved to 4 times a year. The cop who comes to my house said that is incorrect but when I asked the registry department, they said that is what FDLE said to do. Hog wash.
A problem with the registry Mr. Dorsett is the it fails to prevent sexual assault from happening. As others have pointed out the majority of people who commit these crimes weren’t on the registry. Second, the hodgepodge of restrictions like residential, employment, leisure, are the antithesis of what constitutes a successful and meaningful reintegration into society. Lastly, no other set of charges brings about such restrictions. Yes, murder is often a life sentence, but even then there isn’t a public registry.
I’m tired of being unemployed, living out in the woods and practically unable to access health care. My offense was the result of me being lured into an entrapment sting on Craigslist. I screwed up and I took my punishment. Yet I saw on Channel 9 News the other day, the pos who assaulted me in VCBJ evading the police, his list of offenses are far more than mine.
How is it failing IF it STOPS more people from even thinking about to starting to Sexually Assault someone. This Registry is not full proof, but it allows others to be cautious also if they are living in the community. Should the LAW STOP locking up people for crimes because people still get into trouble. BTW when you get a FELONY on your record that’s called PUBLIC REGISTRY, so there really is no difference.
It’s a rather foolish notion to believe that any law or public posting will stop a person from a breaking a law should they have any intention of doing so.
“Hmm, I think I’ll go sexually assault someone. Oh, bother… Nevermind. There’s a public registry of which I’m already on.”
Sounds rather naive does it not?
@ SC
It is actually very effective.
It is effective at shaming us for life.
It is effective at allowing vigilantes to attack us and our families both verbally and physically.
It is effective at keeping us down to where we cannot get a job so we cannot support our families.
Is effective at not allowing us to live in all but a small percentage of areas.
I could go on but all of us live this on a daily basis.
That’s the whole point . It doesn’t stop anyone from thinking about it. Instead it put a notice in front of them constantly telling them you are a criminal you can’t change so you may as well go back to doing the thing you did before because society won’t let you become a better person that you would like to be.
And by the way not all on the registry are felons. Many were charged with misdemeanor offenses but are treated the same as felons.
[Moderated].
Mr. Dorsett, there isn’t any empirical evidence that shows the registry is a deterrent to crime.
There are no housing restrictions by law against exfelons. There are no laws dictating what municipal or business establishment they may enter.
What notification did your neighbors get when you moved into the neighborhood. How many times do the police show up on your doorstep for a compliance check or address verification. Should your neighbors need to be extra cautious because you live nearby. How likely are you to reoffend.
That is a little bit wrong and allow me to explain please.
As former law enforcement myself, once someone has a felony, it stays on their record. A job background check can find it but otherwise, that person is not hassled and no one knows.
The registry on the other hand is on steroids. Officers or deputies come to our houses (Even though we have done our time) and grill us with questions several times a year just like we are on probation even though we are not. Our registry page with our address is and photo is available to anyone although no other crime allows that. We have to go into the registry office 2 to 4 times a year to re-register and ANY new updates we have like leaving the state for vacation, getting a new car, having a relative or a roommate who got a new car (Every car has to register at our homes even those other people are not on the registry)
Some of us have to take polygraphs (Not me but have heard of some that do) even though we/they have completed their sentences. My point is, we did and are not given a 2nd chance at life. We are on probation for life even though we are not, it is the same thing. Our driver’s licenses are marked as a sex offender statue or as a sexual predator, the actual words.
Not all of us are every going to offend again so why make ever person suffer for the few who re-offend?
And sorry for those on here who are being gruff towards you, I am just trying to show you our side of life. Most of us have owned what we did but are given a life sentence that was not given by any judge because law makers found a way around not giving us life sentences. Thanks for listening.
I agree it needs to be reformed so that a person who has remained crime free for a period of time should be REMOVED entirely. But others who are stone cold reoffenders should remain for life and also need to find out if they sexually abused kids as a kid. Those records should be opened up if someone Sexually abuse someone.
You’re a better person than I am Cherokee.
BWj
I am not better than anyone else. I am getting old and to sick to wage wars with people. I have heart issues, I use to love to argue, but it is not worth it. I am not becoming soft but as my days are numbered, I am trying think how a pastor, priest or clergy person would address the situation.
I am not afraid of dying as I know where I am going, I am just afraid of dying and still being on the registry. If that happens, I will make sure to haunt the registry offices endlessly LOL
Thank you.
CherokeeJack we have some similar issues.
I am a Vet. 100% service connected medical problems. I am no threat to anyone. I am old and impotent.
I thank God my wife loves and supports me.
I live in Michigan and we go to Florida one a year for vacation. I was not aware of the Florida SO registry until after I had to register.
The registry is an abomination, a festering wound on humanity. Politictions maintain and or advance their careers on the backs of us on the registry.
I read once that the majority of people on the Florida registry do not live full time there. The registry is a money maker.
Men are homeless, can’t get a job. Some get killed. The harsh mental impact that comes from guilt, worry, and fear can be unbearable.
What has happened to this world, how did we get so bad that the laws designed to protect and help us got so convoluted that even those who are relegated to administering these laws are confused.
Sorry for ranting, I needed to unload.
@Mac
You can rant and unload on me anytime if it helps and makes you feel better.
And as far as putting people on Florida’s registry forever for just coming for a visit is one of the top 10 biggest scams ever in Florida.
Mac:
I hope you are one of the ones removed from the registry in Michigan when the Does litigation becomes final.
I believe that some people whose offense predated 1997 might not have to register in Florida. I might be wrong so you need to check Florida law.
They might be requiring you to register in Florida because you are required to register in Michigan. If you are removed from the Michigan registry, talk to an attorney in Florida to see if you can be removed from the Florida registry.
Everyone is placed on the Florida registry for life. Boban Temelkoski won in the Michigan Supreme Court and was removed from Michigan’s registry (see People v Temelkoski). He was on the Florida registry and has since been removed. Mention his case to your attorney in Florida if you are removed from the Michigan registry.
What you fail to realize is that placing people’s names, pictures, and information on a list does absolutely NOTHING to stop any of them from reoffending, and anyone who actually believes the registry keeps the public safe has [moderated].
Placing people on the registry in order to stop them from reoffending or to keep the public safe makes about as much sense as creating a registry of every crime in the world then placing every human being on it and sitting back and saying, “Yay, world peace. No more crime because everyone is listed on it.”
If I wanted to reoffend, which I won’t, having my name and info on the registry would NEVER stop me, so please give me just ONE valid example of how the registry keeps the public safe and prevents someone from reoffending. I’ll wait….
[Moderated].
@Disgusted
And, even though our families’ names are not on the registry, if they live with us, they fear being attacked, mistaken for me, and more. Our cars, even ones that are not mine, have had their tires slit, paint scratched, feces thrown on it and once even set on fire.
The windows of our house have been shot out three times, once just missing a relatives head as it was not my bedroom but theirs. We have our mail stolen so often we had to get a po box. The grandkids cannot play with the neighbor kids because they get beat up or bullied and are home schooled.
Collectively we could come up with over 1000 punishments and crimes committed against us which law enforcement dismisses because of who we are. Half the time they do not even respond and we wait for hours for them. When we call back we are told, oh, just fill out a report online. WHAT?
There is a number of people tired as well that are on the registry, reformed, and waiting for those who want to take the law into there own hands and protect there innocent families @ all cost. Itll be called self defense.
[Moderated]
Its so refreshing to have someone like Meaghan step up and fight against something that one would think she would be in favor of after all she has been through.
Thank you Meaghan.
Meaghan Ybos is an attorney from Memphis, Tennessee which is in the same circuit as Michigan (6th Circuit Court of Appeals). With everything going on in Michigan and the 6th Circuit, this could get interesting.
I pray they can get rid of the register Sex Offender registry. I think the law is so corrupt. Or they changed the rules on it. A lot of us on the S.O.R. have never had a record of past felony arrest. This incident that happened to us, that got us to have to register has a sex offender for just a one time incident. And a lot of ours is consent. In my case my was consent. I didn’t force my so called victim to do anything. It was a 2 way road. We both played in on it consent. One of the family members wanted to press charges on me for no dang reason. After I fought my case I ended up getting probation and have to register has a sex offender. I am no way in any shape a threat. A lot of these young ones lie about there age. There is young ones out there that look older then there true young age. We can fall victim to them. There is so much social media today then ever. They can go on there and pretend who they are. My victim lied to me about her age. I guarantee you, if I would have known the real true age. I would have not got involved in anything at all. My victim looked like she was 18. I was told that. But that was not true. I have no idea what the victim and the family said to authorities. I feel so wrong to what happen to me in my situation. I pray they can fix the S.O.R.
If it was a one-time incident such as yours then I see no reason for this to happen, but unfortunately like myself I have 2 low level FELONIES against the state and no one else but I’m saddled as a Felon for LIFE. Hmmmm Now I’ve done my time and paid back why can’t I get my Rights back automatically. Remember the system of JUST US was created for black runaway slaves.
[Moderated]
Wow. Just wow. What a video and what courage. With heroes like her fighting with us – I feel hopeful. We will all fight the injustices. In the courts, in the ballots, in the legislature, in the media. We will fight this injustice everywhere and anywhere. We will not give up.
I answered an ad on Yahoo.com personals from a girl who claimed to be 18 and said she was an escort. We ended up meeting and had sex. A few weeks later I got arrested for having sex with a minor. I had no clue, even the arresting detective who was a female said that she definitely looked 18-20. For that, I am on the sex offender registry.