Letter: The punishment must fit the crime
About 100 U.S. teachers, mostly women, are charged with sex crimes each year, although many others go unreported. Affairs between teachers and students are becoming more common in both the U.S. and Europe, probably because the rise of social media has made communication easier and more private. In most of Europe, the age of consent is 14, while in American states it’s 16, 17 or 18. But regardless of students’ ages, teachers may be considered predators because their authority implies a potential for duress. No coercion may have been used and the student may even have bragged about the experience to his friends. Yet punishments for sex offenders are draconian, commonly far out of proportion to the crime.
Recently, a 23-year-old Minnesota teacher had an affair with a 15-year-old boy and now faces seven charges, including sexual assault of a child, use of a computer in a sex crime, child enticement, causing a child to view pictures of sexual activity, two counts of exposing genitals, and subjecting a child to harmful materials. The woman has also been charged with “brutality,” even though the boy had a second encounter with her and even denied the affair in order to protect her. Fired from her job, the woman is now subject to a sentence of 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of all charges. She could also be branded a sex offender for many years, if not for life. Her career is likely ruined.
An article in “Reason” magazine says that “when people hear the term ‘sex offender’ they just panic.” The result is that laws governing such affairs are commonly chaotic, cruel and even unconstitutional. Some states impose severe penalties for non-threatening behavior, such as urinating in public, to be kept on a registry for life. Some registrants are as young as 9 years old.
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…… “when people hear the term ‘sex offender’ they just panic.”
Exactly. And this is the reason why draconian laws and restrictions based on emotion, usually with factual evidence to the contrary, continue to be passed. Politicians know these laws make no difference, they are using them to get or stay elected and to keep the money spigot open. The more corrupt politicians may even run a charity related to the subject to fleece the public even more.
This is not unique to SORNA, there are numerous laws at the local, State, and Federal level empirical evidence shows doesn’t make a measurable difference (in some cases have the opposite effect) yet politicians keep using these topics to get elected because voters are emotional about them. Gun, drug, and minimum wage laws come to mind just to name a few.
It is now, always has been, and always will be about the power and money. Those who get hurt along the way are inconsequential. The only relief provided is by the courts and to be honest, they are a disappointing group when taken as a whole.
The source article (linked with “READ MORE”) that this post was copy & pasted from didn’t name the teacher.
i loved this
“A million Americans are being denied the right to a normal life. But conscientious people will not allow this evil to go unchallenged.”
Because the teacher was not named in the publican that published the article! No Billy, please crawl back under your rock!!!
This teacher needs to flee to CANADA- ask for political asylum