I appreciate the reply, but it doesn’t address the nature of the question.
The misconception that i struggle with is the logic that a registry PROTECTS anyone. And this is the logic often used to fuel the fire for the registry and other things that are actually punitive as you noted.
So, just clarifying, my post wasn’t so much about whether a registry (PRIVATE – for law enforcement) is useful, isn’t at all the question. the question that maddens me is, how does it PROTECT anyone? Having John Doe’s name on a list somewhere doesn’t protect against John Doe performing an illegal act. The fact that recidivism exists at all for any criminal who has their name on some registry, shows that this logic isn’t sound.
Other arguments for having a registry (public or private) are fine, happy to hear them, but this argument that a registry ‘offers protection’ in any way needs to be attacked so it will stop being used and considered as valid arguments in news posts or by legislators.
Thanks for comments – I’m just clarifying the original question.

What I am having a difficult time comprehending is how a law in one part of the country can be found unconstitutional and yet not unconstitutional in other parts of the nation? Aren’t we all supposed to be one people, one nation under the same laws? When we can observe daily just how fouled up the nation is in so many areas of life, it’s no wonder sex offender laws are so confused and lacking in purpose.

Yes, that is true Debbie, which makes it redundant to have a separate system just for sex offenders. It consumes valuable time, funds and resources that could be used to actually prevent new crimes instead of persecuting reformed sex offenders!

Probation and parole already keep track of their offenders and they even have their own public registry display with the dept of corrections where you can search for offenders that are currently serving a sentence. But why must it be post sentence for some ? That I don’t agree. If someone was that dangerous then give them a longer sentence “BUT” via the courts with due process and not by the government’s hand. The government can pass punishing and sentencing laws, but the government cannot sentence you. That’s why we have courts for and have due process. Once someone finishes their sentence, then they shouldn’t be subject to anything – period!. If they re-offend, you punish them again to an appropriate sentence in accordance with the law. Nobody should finish a sentence and then the government gives you another sentence without due process. It is ridiculous and tyrannical. It is punishment in the guise of a regulatory scheme.

Les,

I think that registration can and should be a part of probation and parole for all violent crimes — whether sexual or non-sexual — in nature. I think it is common sense to keep track of the people that have already committed a violent offense. But, lifetime registration is extreme for most offenders — and all of the additional restrictions on the lives of sex offenders that have been added in recent years are punitive and a clear violation of ex post facto principles.

Most states already require ALL felons to register and re-register anyway. Why is that not sufficient for sex offenders?

Somehow many countries have jumped on the bandwagon that sex offenders are more likely to re-offend and are less worthy of forgiveness. Apparently, if you commit a single non-violent sex offense, you are more dangerous to society than a person who is convicted of murderer, arson, aggravated battery or drunk driving. I guess my brain must be faulty because I do not see it.

Of course, when I speak of registration, I mean ONLY registration — not all of the other requirements that states have added in recent years. I do not think those on the registry should be subjected to proximity and residency restrictions of any kind unless it was stipulated in court during their sentencing.

I also do not think anyone should be subject to ANY legislation that burdens them in any way unless the law was enacted prior to their conviction for an offense that the law covers. Individuals in such a circumstance should be removed from all registries everywhere immediately — regardless of the nature of their offense.