More churches are checking the national sex offender registry. Is it helping?
Earlier this year, LifeWay reported that 16,000 congregations and other church organizations ran background checks on men and women it hired through a service called backgroundchecks.com. (The Southern Baptist Convention has so far resisted calls to set up a database of its own, saying the national registry was more dependable.)
Other denominations are also increasingly using searchable databases on prospective employees as the #churchtoo movement begins to shift church attitudes toward sexual abuse and prevention.
Most background checks sift through more than 600 million felony, misdemeanor and traffic records. Perhaps most importantly, they also check the nationwide sex offender registry.
But that may give churches and other religious groups a false sense of security about preventing abuse, experts say.
Elizabeth L. Jeglic, a professor of psychology John Jay College, City University of New York, who studies sex offender registries, said such cases are pretty rare. Only 5% of people on the sex offender registry are repeat offenders, according to a recent study in New York state. The vast majority are first-time sex offenders.
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@Cherokee Jack–You are EXACTLY right! If there is ANY place in the country that an RSO should be able to FIND REDEMPTION and ACCEPTANCE, it is at the local freakin’ church. How hypocritical is it to turn someone away because a few millennial couples are afraid that their precious Chloe and Aiden might get too close the big bad creepy RSO that goes to their church. It’s ridiculous. He who is without sin, cast the first stone. The One they claim to worship, said that, yet they love to overlook that verse.
Even then, if an RSO has been through treatment and finished all of their requirements, why can’t they work at a church? Why can’t they be a janitor or Sunday School teacher or an associate pastor or something like that? Youth Pastor? OK, no I get that. But why not anything else? The organized church is becoming a joke too I’m afraid to say. There are some great churches like the one I go to here in Jacksonville that welcomes me with open arms. The pastors trust me and are great people. But I know, that’s rare for a lot of us.
I also think we need to STOP feeding in and perpetuating other people’s ignorance as it regards the term “sex offender”. We all know it’s a BS term that is waaaayyyyyy too overarching and has been propagandized by politicians and the media to serve their own interests. Truthfully, I DON’T think a church should do a background check. Talk to the person that wants to work or serve and get to KNOW THEM. And then make a decision on what you feel is right. And if you know about their background, make precautions if you must, like have another adult there with them at all times, but don’t just dismiss them because they’re an RSO. It’s getting absurd and I’m sick of it. Let us live. Let us work. Let us enjoy life. For the love of God!
MJ, which church do you attend in Jacksonville? What would they require of him: a private interview, security with him at all times, etc.?
When my husband gets out of prison, I do not think that our church in Orange Park will allow my husband back. My husband wants so much to be able to worship God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, but I have told him that in all of my research on the matter, it is looking pretty dismal–we might be worshiping in front of a TV in our den.
Even though we have both been very involved in church ministries all of our lives, at this point we would be happy just have a place to worship once a week, give our tithe, but not join or try to be present for any other church activities as I am sure there would be some who would cringe at the thought of a “sexual predator” being in the same building with their child.
I read that “victims” really struggle with the idea that they could be sitting in church with someone who is on the SOR. My husband might be on the SOR, but very few people sitting in churches throughout this country have ever gone through what he had to endure as a child and adolescent from his father. Imagine the worst case scenario and you have probably figured out what happened to my husband. So for all those who want to cry victimization, how I wish my husband had had to only endure what they had to endure.
@Sarah– what a heartfelt post. I understand what you’re saying. I was molested as a child and it certainly played a factor in my so called crime.
I go to Restore Church. It’s in Oceanway on the Northside. I didn’t have any interview per se. The pastors approached me and I just told them my story. They didn’t bat an eye. They welcomed me with open arms. Not many other people know about my situation but they dont need to. Its really no ones business. I am very active there and its not an issue. I play keyboard in the band, go to our mens group at mellow mushroom every Wednesday night, and go to small groups and other outings we have. It’s very laid back.
I encourage you to Google the church and look at the website. You’ll be impressed. I love the church. It would be perfect for yall. I live on the westside and it only takes me 20-25 minutes to get there on Sunday morning. Straight up 295 to Main St exit. And you’re basically there in Oceanway. Check it out.
The church’s motto is “where everyone is a work in progress.” So that tells you how they think.
MJ, you are an answer to prayer. I checked out the website–everything is scriptural. I am sending the “Statement of Faith”, which is definitely Bible-based, for my husband to read. Then I will see what the Lord has in store for us. Just the name of your church says it all: Restore Church. I am so excited to know that there is a church out there that might accept us.
By the way, we are not exactly a young couple. My husband is 78 and I am 69. He does have some dementia but is still considered functional. This whole prison experience has brought us both closer to the Lord than I ever thought was possible.
Thank you so much. You have really made my day. I have gone through 3 years of “gloom and doom”, looking for emotional support and guidance from others and have finally found it through FAC.
Sarah, I honor you for sticking by your husband. So many wives would not have done so. I hope I can take you to lunch one day, get to meet you, and shake your hand. I know that God smiles on you and your husband. You represent what a marriage should look like.
Thank you, Bob.
Sarah, I just hope that probation will not restrict your husband from leaving Clay County to go to church in Jax…or go to the Navy Exchange.
I completely forgot about that. Since we live on the northern end of Clay County, so much of what we do is in Duval County: base, medical, shopping, etc. Orange Park is more like a suburb of Duval County. Clay County just does not offer what Duval County has to offer–there is no comparison. This is why I am glad that Gilbert Schaffnit is practicing law. If it is in God’s will that my husband can enter Duval County, then it will happen. Thanks.
Sarah, if your husband will be on probation when released, please read the conditions very carefully. They should state rules on leaving the county or judicial circuit. Clay, Nassau, and Duval are in the 4th circuit: https://www.jud4.org/
Whether he will be on probation or not, he will not be allowed on any military base without a waiver letter from a Regional Commander, currently Admiral Mayes for the Navy Southeast Region. You have to go through Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Southeast: https://www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/rlso/rlso_southeast.htm
You have to use the format from Commander Naval Installations Command Instruction [CNICINST 1752.1]:
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/hq/pdfs/Instructions/01000%20Series/CNICINST%201752.1.pdf
You will want to follow Enclosure 2 “Waiver Requests”. Access must be granted for military retirees, but he will still need the waiver, and access will be restricted to Medical, NEX, Commissary and VA offices. If you need any help with this, please ask FAC for my email address.
Thank you, JZ. I had no idea about any of this. I will take care of it.
You are very welcome Sarah.
Sarah– yes you might want to consider moving to Duval in an area that would be approved for him to live in. Then you can have full access to anything here, except NAS Jax but JZ was a big help to you there….
No worries on your age demographic. We have a beautiful African American family that goes there. They are in their 70s and 80s and are a joy to be around. You would fit right in. Just something to consider.
We might be forced from our home because of the resisdency restrictions, but I was told that they (whoever they is) sometimes give exemptions in cases like my husband’s (age, dementia). But no one in probation will talk to me. If we have to move, it would be so much easier if I could take care of everything before my husband’s release.
I was considering Jacksonville until I read about the 2500-foot resisdency restriction there for people classified as a sexual predator, while sex offenders have the 1,000-foot restriction.
If your husband’s name was on the deed at the time of the offense he might be ‘grandfathered’. You might want to check on that. I know I fell into that category for the Brevard County Ordinance. Every place seems to be different; that’s why it is so frustrating.
We did a quick claim deed in 2000–that is what we were told to do by Clay Co Clerk of Court Office, so his name should have been on the deed since 2000. A detective from Alachua County mentioned the possibility of being grandfathered in, but she was not sure (and she would be the person my husband would register with if we moved to Alachua Co.). No one seems to know anything in Clay Co, but I am going to take MJ’s advice and pay a visit to probation once I have had a meeting with Mr. Schaffnit (if he decides to take on my husband as a client).
Sarah, I have been going to Patrick AFB since mid 2003 and have never had a problem…and with no special permit. All I do to get on the base is show my retired ID card. I go to medical, the commissary, the exchange, the barbershop, the package store, the filling station, and take pre-diabetic classes in their training building. You might want to ‘test the waters’ before you bring attention to your husband.
Sarah–yes that restriction is pretty much standard for anywhere you go in Florida unless the county has an ordinance that goes beyond that. The Clay Probation office is in Green Cove right past SR 16 in that big shopping complex. You should just go there in person and demand some answers to your questions. They are hard to deal with and think they are above you , but don’t let them bully you.
You can also call the Duval probation office too and see what you would have to do if you lived here. The more you do now before he gets out, the better and easier it will be for the both of you. Don’t be paralyzed by fear. Fight for your husband and for yourself for that matter. I know it’s easier said than done, but if we don’t fight back, then they will just stomp all over us.
If you live in Clay County, there are no additional restrictions other than the Florida 1,000 foot residency:
https://library.municode.com/FL/Clay_County/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH2AD_ARTIXCOET
The Florida statute governing residency restrictions covers offenses occurring on or after October 1, 2004:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0775/Sections/0775.215.html
I would not advise moving to Duval (Jacksonville) since there are numerous restrictions on “sex offenders” and “predators” in addition to the 2,500 foot rule for “predators:”
https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIXPUSA_CH685SEOFSEPRRE
Thanks again. I have made copies of everything you have posted for my future use.
See that is why they keep pushing registries. Few if any neighbors are going to go down and pay for a background check on someone , although jobs might, but anyone with a cell phone can google your name and what comes up? Not the you won the Nobel prize ( Even if you did ) or that you saved a litter of puppies from drowning but that huge photo of us on a creepy website that portrays us all as monsters.
I thought I might make a comment on this article since I’ve experienced it. I have been facilitating/hosting a small group in my home since late 2004. We have gone through a huge variety of subjects. Some of our members have gone on to their reward, others have moved out of the area, while we still have some of the original members in attendance. About three years ago when I started going to the East Coast Christian Center on Merritt Island, Florida…the UMC had moved too far away from Biblical doctrine…I offered to open our group to any of their members who might be interested in our small group. Our group was then listed in their quarterly small groups announcement. Then about six months ago apparently one of their church small group leaders did something that caused quite a stir. This led their lawyers to advise the church to do background…’badground’…checks on all in leadership positions that the church sponsored. Of course my name came up and I was called in and told the church could no longer acknowledge our small group because of me. I considered it their loss, not mine. Our group continues to thrive without their support. I still go to that church. I usually get a good message, however, I now not only look for the positive message in the sermon but the hypocrisy…and there is plenty. I will go there to be a ‘thorn in their side’ to remind them that their actions do not fit the message. I have many friends in that church who support me. But then it’s not about me, it’s about the truth in the message. You cannot preach restoration and forgiveness and then not practice it. Two of their pastors are ex-drug dealers and they let it be known.
I would say that it certainly does NOT help. If a church wants to protect children they should fire the priests as they are much much more likely to be a danger to children than someone who peed in an alley 2 decades ago and got put on some antiquated and useless public shaming list.
It’s 2019 not 1719! Time for America to grow up!
Not all churches have priests. Some have Pastors, Ministers, etc. Not everyone is Catholic. Also not all priests are bad. I am not Catholic but stereotyping all priests as offenders is not right. I do agree though that when they have proof they offended, they should not be put back with kids. The old saying of putting a lamb in a lion’s cage.
Once again it is about sex abuse alot of registery people are fron urinating outside or these internet sex stings where actually no child was no where in site on police arrest paper states that no victim and that they target these people but they don’t put that the ones who do reoffend then by all means locked up and registery but have alot that never had any records at all plus seem to pass all polygraph test pass sex test in pretrail you have kids age 8 and up thats bull who protect them to show them right or wrong and now make a movie good boys who uses internet to learn how to kiss yes rate r but young kids will end up watching those boys are 12
Background checks on people being hired at churches I have no issue with. What I have issue with is some churches are banning offenders from attending church services.
That’s nothing new. Iv been in church for 20 plus years. They been doing background checks for as long as I can remeber for most volunteers positions. I obviously dont what you call (pass) a background check. But I have been invited everytime I applied and auditioned for the praise and worship teams as a musician. I was always up front with them. Never had one problem in 20 years..