Must Listen: Michigan ACLU’s Miriam Aukerman on the broken sex offenders registry.
- In May, a federal judge gave Michigan lawmakers 90 days to overhaul the state’s sex offender registry law. That ruling came after a 2016 federal appeals court decision that found the sex offender registry law was unconstitutional. That 90-day deadline has now passed, but the law still stands.
- We talk to Miriam Aukerman, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Michigan, about why the court ruled the sex offender registry law unconstitutional, and why there are yet to be any concrete changes to the law.
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There are sick people out there, who will kidnap, rape and murder.
You think a registry is going to stop them? Has it ever?
Are they even listed on it? If so, how do I know which ones they are? I shouldn’t have to comb through the personal records of 917,000 people just to figure that out.
Yes there are sick people out there. I am glad I am not the only one that is being realistic.
Yes I am labeled as a sex offender, should I be? No I shouldn’t! But life is not always fair, did I rape someone, molest a child? Nope, I simply met a girl at a party when I was 18 years old and I didnt ask for ID.
Simple as that, 20 years later and I am still labeled.
I am well aware of the world we live in! The registry allows the public to see who they should be cautious of without having to search through every single record. The ones that say there isn’t a need to protect our children and families have a screw loose.
Jacob you are absolutely correct. The way they have the registry set up is ridiculous. I had sex with a girl when I was 18 yeas old. The only thing I did wrong was not ask for ID. 20 years later I am unemployed and have no life with my own children, I have been trying to get help since 2000. Mean while there are really sick people out there that make excuses and act like they didn’t do anything wrong. A sick person doesn’t know they are sick in the head. I know I made a mistake, but I didn’t force, coerce, bribe, I simply ended the relationship immediately after I found out I had been lied to. It doesn’t matter my intent, only thing that matters is the way the law is written.
So I will be as brief as possible. Please comment what you think…
I am a sex offender and have been since 2000. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear sex offender is rapist or pedophile. Well the sad part is some people end up on the registry and don’t really belong there. When I was 18 years old I met a girl at a high school graduation party. She flirted with me often and everyone was drinking and having fun. We ended up having a short relationship which involved sex. At first it started out she was 17, then a few days later she said she lied and was 16 but lied because she really like me. I got concerned and started asking people questions, people that knew her from the neighborhood. Turns out she was only 13 years old. Now a sick person would say hey it’s ok, we have had sex already no big deal. A sane person would say oh no this cannot continue. I broke up with the girl and she decided that stalking me was ok. She came by my house everyday for a week and tried to get me to come outside. Finally I got mad, I went outside and told her to stay away from me and said some hurtful things I probably shouldn’t have. The next day she ran away from home and was found behind my house in a park threatening to commit suicide. Now in my opinion I got a bad deal, I didn’t do anything wrong other than trust her at her word and did what i could to fix the situation once I found out she lied. But still I have to register and guess what I am almost 40 now and have kids of my own. I am not allowed to associate with my own children without restrictions. Not right, I can not take them trick or treating, I can not take them to see Santa Clause. I mean come one. I know there is a need for a registry. But some people don’t belong on it. I pose no threat to anyone, even had an assessment where psychologist have said I am no danger to anyone no danger of reoffending but yet I am still on the registry! I actively work to be removed because it isn’t right! Not all sex offenders are sick people, most are! I am sorry, I know this because I have met many that think it is ok to brag about their perverted crimes, enough to make you sick!
If you aren’t committing $EX crimes then I certainly would not call you a “$EX offender”. That term is a propaganda weapon of war and hate. So I would avoid it. If you call yourself or other people that then that is what people should think you are.
You’ve got to use some paragraphs. That will definitely help.
You are incorrect to state, “I know there is a need for a registry.” There is not. But anyone who thinks there is needs to be listed on it. You could add to the end of your writing something like, “I think that Registries should exist so I should be listed on them.”
There is a need for a registry! There are sick people in this world and the public has the right to know. I have 4 kids myself and I dont want anyone to violate their sense of security.
There are people that will kidnap, rape, and murder children and adults for that matter!
Some one said wake up,lol! Yes wake up, we live in an evil world. If you dont think a registry is necessary then you probably should be on it!
You see there is many degrees of sickness! You may have done something dumb and learned from your mistake. That’s fine, congratulations for accepting responsibility for your actions!
Everyone isn’t remorseful, the registry is needed for people that think child pornography is ok, people that think rape is just a mistake or dumb choice. Open your eyes, you may be bitter at the system for whatever reason. But at the end of the day you did something that was considered predatory in nature. You violated someone’s sense of security.
Not all cases are the same, so if it dont apply let it fly!
All I am saying is yes the registry is there for a reason. Some that are on the registry should have never been put there in the first place. And to brag about a sex crime just shows that the person needs help. But a smart person see’s your insinuation’s. The one that says there is no need of a registry should 100% be on it with a sign in their front yard.
You say that the term sex offender is propaganda a weapon of war and hate.
I disagree, it is a term that identifies a person who has been charged and convicted with a sex crime.
John Walsh thinks that a registry is needed as well and I agree.
I guess he should be listed on the registry as well.
No sense in trying to change anyone’s mind here. I have been dealing with this for 20 years roughly. I have formed my opinion and that’s not gonna change.
First of all, on the day you did the deed you were a sex offender. If you have not re-offended and are sorry for what you did (you said you were) why are you still calling yourself a sex offender. The title ex-offender is even used by the courts for other crimes.
Everyone wants to label us for life with what we may or in some cases not done in our past. We all made some bad choices but the Government wants to punish us for the rest of our lives and mostly wants to have us all sent to mental institutions.
The majority of offenders got help, treatment or counseling and if nothing else, can at least suppress any future urges to offend. For many getting arrested was a blessing and a wake up call to move their lives into a positive direction.
Then the registries came along and changed any hope we had of rebuilding our lives. Many cannot find jobs, housing , or find someone to date. I have heard stories of churches, doctors and even Disney turning people away, not because they did a background check on them but because it is so easy to look up a name on the registry. Each time that happens, we are re-charged and convicted with a crime that may have happened decades ago.
Just because others call us sex offenders doesn’t mean you have to call yourself that, unless you believe you still are then that is your choice. I am not in denial, I just know I have not had an offense in over 3 decades. I am not perfect but I will not bow to their labels with their Nazi tactics and judgmental and preconceived ideas.
1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ
Galatians 6:1-2
Out of my long 4 years in prison and counseling sessions after, only 1 bragged about what he did. What I did hear was a lot of drug dealers, thieves, assailants, and a few murders did brag about what they had done. I heard it all in there, do you know what the trap game is? It is where a drug dealer brings their poison to a party and make a pretty girl feel just so loved. They introduce drugs, she gets hooked, she runs out of things to steal form her family to pay for drugs. Now she is trading herself to get high. Wake up!
Only 1 out of many that I came into contact with. The rest were feeling really stupid and very remorseful. Probably because they actually had lost the most valuable thing in life, people’s trust.
The time period for this has passed again. Any updates?
Please read in entirety. I am a sex offender with some food for thought.
1 The biggest problem with the registry is that it is public, as in all you need is to enter an address to see who is around you. Should my sin be hidden? No.
Should a vigilante be able to just look at their screen and see all the sex offenders. No.
Let’s consider some things that were not mentioned in the audio:
2 All places that hire where there are potential victims do a background check. Most place do a background check anyways.
Anyone interested in knowing about me can do a simple Google search to see my face and offence.
3 Before you invite someone into your home, letting your children into another home, or letting your children befriend someone, just ask to see their ID and do a simple search. Stop being lazy or worried of making someone feel a not great emotion.
4 The state already knows where everyone lives. Everyone needs to have a license or ID. The ones who want to hide from the State will.
5 I’m not sure I should share this but::
There are many other negative nuances to the dots on a map approach.
A young person in my neighborhood wanted a ride on my motorcycle. I know this because of a conversation I overheard.
He/she said I want a ride on his motorcycle.
Other kid; He wants to touch you on your privates.
He/she; I don’t care.
If that doesn’t scare the crap out of you? What will?
He/she took the information they had and formulated a plan to get what they wanted.
I don’t hold conversations with kids and I’m only friendly enough to not be an a hole.
6 The Michigan Tier system needs to be revised.
I was a father that did some really stupid things that really hurt the people that I care about the most. Being factual and not making excuses or justifications. I did not use manipulation or force in my offence, yet I am a Tier 1 with the worst of the worst. And a monitor on my ankle for life. Can’t they make the monitor smaller? Or is it supposed to be a warning flag? Or is it continued punishment?
How can I find an intellectual, attractive, and caring girlfriend that doesn’t have or want kinds with this huge thing on my leg?
If I were a lesser man and desperate for attention, what would my options be?
7 Would you let a stranger come up to your kids and hold a conversation with them? No!
Every crime needs opportunity and motive.
8 People who don’t have hope for their future seek comfort in things they maybe shouldn’t.
9 If anyone should be on a registry consider this; when I was in prison almost all of the drug dealers, thieves, drunk drivers, and druggies make excuses for their actions. Some were even talking about how to better get away with their crimes in the future. Drugs kill people and ruin thousands of lives.
In sharp contrast, almost all sex offenders were using their time to understand themselves and why they thought it was okay to do what they did. They didn’t want to fall into the same path of thinking or harm people.
In closing; what Miriam Aukerman said is dead on.
“Do you want to be mad, or do you want to be safe”
Omg, FAC. Step to the right direction??? Federal judge ruled FBI’s Terror Watchlist unconstitutional! Because it violates the rights of American citizens who are on the watchlist. Impeding travel in airports, etc. And because reasons for having it are too vague. It was a lawsuit from people put on the database. I think only difference is they have no convictions. But still! Same argument must apply here? And Aukerman’s points? I’m quite excited about this. Here’s the NYT article. The judge’s opinion is included in article. Sending this to support the post above.
Maybe post this article, if relevant?
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/us/politics/terrorism-watchlist-constitution.html#click=https://t.co/rVnqZZ8cT7
I took the opportunity to write our Governor asking him to be a LEADER and promote reform of this mess right here in our state. I have no hope that he will but I did try anyway.
Thank you for doing that. I am in the process of sending research-backed facts to our state legislators. I had not thought about our governor. When interviewed by our paper during the elections, after being asked what he thought about Florida’s criminal justice system and prison system, the paper said that he was satisfied with the “status quo”. But some tell me that he is capable of change.
The following is a request of JZ. I have a favor to ask of you. If you have the time, would you please go back to a July 31 posting “NC Ex Post Facto Lawsuit Will Proceed — a big win for NARSOL”. Someone has asked me if I can find an article on a particular lawsuit that I read about awhile back. I was not able to find the news story. You are good at legal research. If you do not have the time, I understand. Thank you.